Upcycling

If the old saying is true and “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”, then Nike has struck eco-gold with their upcycling program.

Coined by eco-inclined writers William McDonough and Michael Braugart, ‘upcycling’ is the process of transforming disposable materials into something of greater use. Where recycling reuses the same materials to make something similar, like recycling paper into newsprint, upcycling takes something of less value to produce more value.

Put another way, upcycling is to recycling what “pay it forward” is to payback.  

And Nike has emerged as a corporate leader in upcycling. As with automobile manufacturing, the shoe industry debutes new models and designs every year, using more or less the same component materials. This similarity is what makes upcycling possible. 

For Nike, upcycling is part of their Considered Design concept, which emphasises green business practices.  Nike’s goal is to have all of its sportwear and equipment classified as “considered” by 2020. Stated goals include achieving a 30% decrease in packaging waste, and a 95% reduction in toxic cements by 2015.

How does upcycling work?  Actually, there’s not a lot to it.  Both old material and scraps from the cutting room floor are used to make new shoes.  Combined with a variety of manufacturing and assembly techniques, upcycling uses fewer materials overall.  

A few of Nike’s innovations include mechanically locking soles, meaning no glue or solvents are required in the production process; insertable booties; removable logos and generous use of recycled polyester and organic cotton, with water-based adhesive techniques in place of toxic cement or VOCs.  

Upcycling is a relatively new concept and as such, it isn’t exactly widespread yet. For now, Nike is far and away the leader. But because it will save them a lot of money, that alone will guarantee the upcycling race will have more contestants. Soon.