The world’s #1 sportswear brand, Nike, has accepted our Detox challenge: today it officially committed to eliminating all hazardous chemicals across its entire supply chain, and the entire life-cycle of its products by 2020. This is a major win for a toxic-free future.
Nike’s announcement comes just five weeks into our Detox campaign, which began when we launched the “Dirty Laundry” report, revealing commercial links between major clothing brands – including Nike, Puma and Adidas – and suppliers responsible for releasing hazardous chemicals into Chinese rivers. We challenged these brands to champion a toxic-free future by committing to work with their suppliers and remove these toxic chemicals from their clothes and China’s rivers.
Nike sets a new pace
Puma was first to break away from the pack, opening up an impressive lead by announcing that it would go toxic-free. Puma’s commitment to remove all hazardous chemicals from its entire product-portfolio must have left their competition wondering how they were going to raise their game. Now, Nike and Puma are the front-runners, and Adidas is far behind.
Nike also agreed (their full statement) to address the issue of the public’s “right to know” by ensuring full transparency about the chemicals being released from its suppliers’ factories. The more the public knows about the toxic chemicals spilling out of these factories, the more the pressure to stop them polluting will increase. The importance of this cannot be overstated.
The sportswear giant has also promised to use its influence, knowledge and experience to bring about widespread elimination of hazardous chemicals from the clothing industry.
