Scryve

Nike Inc. full reports

Full Environmental Record

Nike is globally recognized as being a forerunner in taking eco-friendly initiatives and working with other companies, non-government organizations and government institutions to reduce its negative impact on the environment while spreading awareness on the matter. In recent years, Nike has collaborated with the World Wildlife Fund and The Climate Group, has been a key sponsor of Focus the Nation and has met with the EU government and US Congress to address the importance of climate change legislation. Consistent with Nike's overall approach, it is one of the few companies that not only admits that its production negatively impacts the environment but concentrates much of its efforts towards minimizing and correcting those problems. A quintessential example is the company's recently completed, 14-year project costing tens of millions of dollars to replace the chemical in the Nike Air pockets after learning it was hazardous to the environment. This is just one example of the countless voluntary initiatives Nike has taken and will continue to take to protect the environment.

Full Social Record

Much like its environmental record, Nike has adopted a highly transparent policy which has helped the company in taking great steps towards improving its community relations, although there are still reported instances of employee abuses. Nike received a hailstorm of criticism during the 1990's regarding its labor practices in nations such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Pakistan and Mexico, to name a few, for allegations varying from minimum wage and overtime violations to child labor. Out of eighteen reported apparel companies, Nike ranked number one in negative news mentions pertaining to sweatshops and human rights abuses from 1994-2002, with 33.6% of those mentions being about Nike. However, beginning in 2002, Nike began an ongoing campaign to curb labor abuses, which included a team of 97 people to inspect and grade factories on labor practices. The company also released a list of more than 700 of its contracted factories. The Fair Labor Association, which Nike co-founded, randomly inspects its contracted factories. There have been numerous other actions taken by Nike to rectify its labor issues, however, reports of factory abuses still exist to this day. For example, a 2008 undercover investigation, by Australian Channel 7, found instances of forced labor and substandard living conditions. Nike is involved in many social initiatives and launches programs that mostly encourage youth's involvement in sports activities and work to improve public education of less fortunate neighborhoods. Though Nike earnestly tries to curb abuses and is honest about its internal problems, with over 700 contracted factories and 800,000 workers in its supply chain, the endeavor surely requires consistent, hard work, which Nike will hopefully continue.