What began as a grassroots initiative in 1992 to repurpose shoes headed for landfills is now a global sustainability program that helps transform manufacturing scrap and end-of-life shoes into recycled Nike Grind materials. It’s all part of our vision for a circular future—one where the concept of waste no longer exists.
million pounds of Nike Grind have been recycled into partners’ products since 1992
Manufacturing scrap, unused manufacturing materials and end-of-life footwear— including rubber, foam, fiber, leather and textiles—are collected, separated and reused or processed into new Nike Grind materials.
Scraps of rubber, foam, leather and textile left over from creating Nike products are collected from factories around the world.
Extra manufacturing materials that don’t get used and can’t be used for future Nike products find new life in others’ products.
Nike footwear that isn’t suitable for sale (like samples or defects) and worn-out athletic shoes are processed into Nike Grind and given a second chance to perform.
Our goal: reduce waste wherever we can and reuse that waste whenever we can’t. The result is Nike Grind.
Nike is at the leading edge of developing circular waste systems to reuse and recycle material waste in our footwear and apparel supply chain, helping keep it away from landfills and incineration. Together with our partners, we’re delivering high-performance, low-impact solutions for material reuse.
Designing with circularity in mind, Nike product creation teams aim to design waste out from the very beginning and source both Nike Grind materials and other recycled materials that meet our exacting standards.
Manufacturing improvements are constantly being made to maximize material efficiency and reduce waste.
Manufacturing scraps, excess materials and products that can’t be used or donated are recovered and processed into Nike Grind materials or converted into energy to fuel manufacturing.
Nike Grind materials are recycled into Nike products (closed loop) and partner products (open loop).
Through Nike Grind, we’re closing the loop on our product lifecycle and working toward our vision for a zero carbon, zero waste future.
For nearly three decades, Nike has been incorporating Nike Grind materials into product design, retail spaces and workplace environments at Nike World Headquarters and around the globe. From furniture to running tracks. Skateboards to laptop sleeves. Innovation is at the heart of the Nike Grind program.