Nike’s Another Leap in Sustainability: Apparel With 75 Percent Less Carbon Footprint
Nike Forward ditches the traditional multi-stage process of textile manufacturing
There is no doubt that none comes closer to the finesse and brilliance of Nike. Three decades ago, the Oregon-based company launched Dri-FIT technology and left the sporting world revolutionized forever. Years after the inception of Dri-FIT, the performance-wear brand became a paragon in the sustainability space and blazed the trail for its competitors launching Flyleather and Space ‘Hippie’ footwear.
Not willing to rest on its past laurels, Nike now has some other plans in mind. The world’s largest athletic apparel company has worked behind the scene for five long years investing in research and development, before finally unveiling ‘Nike Forward’, which might be their biggest innovation since Dri-FIT.
Image: Nike
Nike Forward is not just a grey hoodie or a cozy crew-neck top, it’s more than a mainstream product. It is an innovation that today takes the shape of a hoodie, and tomorrow can be the socks you wear.
The tech behind the gray hoodie is the talk of the town, which employs an innovative material fabrication method that reduces carbon footprint by nearly 75 percent. A fine alternative to fleece, Nike Forward is an entirely new material made using punch-needle machines.
Image: Nike
In simple terms, turning a traditional fleece or fabric into apparel requires a multi-stage process involving spinning yarn, knitting, cutting, and sewing; but the game-changing innovation platform shortens the procedure and reduces the need for the traditional knit and weave process, resulting in decreased stress on the environment.
Nike uses punch-needle machines to turn fiber directly into textiles, which lessens the impact on the environment and reduces carbon emissions by almost 75 percent. Fewer production steps imply less energy consumed.
Image: Nike
The hoodie is the first product line to be launched under this initiative. It is made of seventy percent recycled content and the product doesn’t use dyes or embellishments. Moreover, the production uses zero water. There are no zippers or extra trims, making it even more recyclable.
Set to release on September 15, the Nike product lineup is a game changer in the sustainability space. Weighing less than one pound, it is available in gray color to further lay off the process of using water to colorize the garment with dyes.
