Integrating Sustainability Into Our Game Plan
At Nike, one way we seek to deliver shareholder value is through
sustainable growth. To us, sustainable growth means our long-term
vision to deliver profitable growth decoupled from constrained natural
resources, even as we work to deliver value to our shareholders in the
near term. Meeting these two objectives requires a careful balance – one
our stakeholders expect of us – and it remains our commitment. We
attempt to strike this balance by leveraging our significant competitive
advantages, including our authentic, emotional connections with
consumers; innovative product and retail experiences that lead the
industry; and a strong NIKE, Inc. portfolio that gives us tremendous
opportunities for growth and profitability.
As we set aggressive goals in all areas of our business – financial,
social and environmental – we are committed to sharing these goals
and to reporting on our performance to consumers, the investment
community and others interested in our commitments and progress,
including the wider sports and apparel industry, community
groups and academia. Over the past 15 years, we have moved from
approaching sustainability as a risk management issue to viewing
it as an innovation opportunity and a competitive advantage to be
integrated into every aspect of our business.
A more holistic sustainability strategy that is fully integrated
into the business enables Nike to create value, not just through
risk mitigation, but also through top-line growth, cost avoidance
and better access to capital. As an example, our next portfolio of
sustainability targets is designed to improve Nike’s environmental
and social impacts for us and across our value chain, while also
avoiding costs across the value chain by reducing waste, energy and
water expenditures.