A key element of NIKE, Inc.'s corporate responsibility strategy is integrating knowledge and values across our organization. It's a marathon, not a sprint. One example of integration comes from Global Procurement, which sources non-product suppliers for Nike (processes for selecting and monitoring product suppliers are described in the Workers and Factories section).
Over the past five years, Global Procurement has partnered with several NIKE, Inc. functions to increase the sustainability of the goods and services they buy. The team leverages NIKE, Inc.'s purchasing power by communicating sustainability objectives to suppliers and potential suppliers, and challenges them to deliver innovative goods and services to meet our objectives.
We think this is an important way to help build markets for more sustainable - and affordable - choices. We saw this dynamic play out in a multi-year project to shift toward more environmentally friendly materials and processes in Nike's retail bag program in the United States. Building on this and other lessons learned, we began evaluating the CR performance of current and prospective suppliers.