Nike Better World Ethos Guides New Recycled Polyester Performance Apparel

Basketball jerseys, soccer kits and TurboSpeed track suits, all built from discarded plastic bottles.

words // Brennan Hiro Williams

During today's Summer of Innovation event, Nike VP of Sustainable Business & Innovation Hannah Jones presented a look at upcoming performance apparel utilizing environmentally sustainable recycled products. Guided by the Nike Better World ethos, the apparel adresses the use of "environmentally preferred materials, reduction of waste and eliminating toxics." 

The new Nike Hyper Elite basketball shorts are made from 100% recycled polyester, while the jersey top is made from 96% recycled polyester. The uniforms are made using an average of 22 recycled PET plastic bottles, melted down to produce polyester yarn. This process saves raw materials and reduces energy consumption in production by an estimated 30% compared to manufacturing virgin polyester. 

Similarly, the new Nike national team football kits are made with 100% recycled polyester for the shorts and 96% for the tops. Each kit uses an average of 13 recycled bottles.

The new Nike TurboSpeed track and field kit uses 82% recycled polyester, derived from an average of 13 recycled plastic bottles.