NIKE UNVEILS SUSTAINABLE “SUPPLY CHAIN OF THE FUTURE”

Beaverton, Oregon-based athletic company Nike, Inc. has unveiled the latest expansion of its European Logistics Campus in Belgium, to accelerate the company’s drive toward the supply chain of the future.

The expansion is slated to make Nike’s European operations more efficient, more responsive and more sustainable, enabling growth by serving consumers across Nike.com, Nike retail and wholesale partners in 38 countries, all from a single inventory location.

The European Logistics Campus uses 100 percent renewable energy, and sources energy from five locally generated sources: wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biomass. Six wind turbines on-site produce enough electricity to power 5,000 households, and the on-site solar panels cover the size of three soccer fields. The facility is fed by an infrastructure of canals, railways and highways. Ninety-nine of inbound containers reach the local container park, by water, not road, saving 14,000 truck journeys a year. Additionally, more than 95 percent of waste generated on-site is recycled. And, interestingly, pathways used by employees around the facility are made from recycled footwear material.

“Globally, we ship more than one billion units of footwear, apparel and equipment every year, which demands an agile, innovative and sustainable supply chain,” said Eric Sprunk, chief operating officer, Nike, Inc. “The expansion of our European Logistics Campus demonstrates our commitment to bring the full range of Nike products to consumers more quickly, where and when they want it – whether it’s one pair of Flyknit shoes or a 10,000-item order for a retailer.”

“Our facilities in Belgium are a pinnacle example of how sustainable innovation is embedded into Nike’s growth strategy, which enables us to maximize our performance while minimizing our footprint,” added Bert Stevens, Vice President of Supply Chain Operations, Nike Europe. “The success of this expansion is a result of excellent teamwork, with great cooperation from local and national governments, and support from many partners and the local community.”