As part of its "Better World" corporate citizenship commitment, Nike is working with some of America's brightest governmental minds on an initiative to create more sustainable materials. 

Founded in 2010, LAUNCH is a strategic collaboration between NASA, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the US State Department and Nike to seek out visionaries whose ideas and technologies can create a more sustainable world. 

This week, Nike convened 150 materials specialists, designers, academics, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and NGOs in green manufacturing at the two-day LAUNCH 2020 Summit, part of a multi-year incubation process. 

“Innovation is most powerful when it’s activated by collaboration between unlikely partners, coupled with investment dollars, marketing know-how and determination.” said Nike President and CEO Mark Parker. “Now is the time for big, bold solutions. Incremental change won’t get us where we need to go fast enough or at a scale that makes a difference.”

To propel the innovation, Nike is sponsoring the LAUNCH Systems Innovation Challenge, which is an open call competition for innovative ideas and processes to transform the way fabrics are made. The challenge will result in 10 product innovations which will be matched up with a team of investors and marketers to aid in the manufacturing process.Continue reading...

Ultra endurance athlete Jason Lester doesn’t back down from a challenge. He’s in the middle of a massive one right now, crossing America – all 4,800 miles of it — on foot and by bicycle in 102 days so he can share the power of sport — and sponsor Nike's Better World vision — along the way to any who will listen.

The author of Running on Faith is in his late 30s and it’s a miracle that he’s even involved with sports at all anymore. He was left for dead at the age of 12 when he was hit by a car while out for a bike ride. He broke 21 bones and a lung collapsed. His right arm became partially paralyzed. While he was in the hospital recovering, his father and sole guardian had a heart attack and died.

But the kid stuck with it. He went back to playing sports the way he had before the accident and went to his local baseball all-star game the next year. Since then, he’s become an accomplished triathlete and the first disabled athlete to complete the Ultraman World Championships.Continue reading...

From sneakers to sustainability, Nike has been promoting its "Better World" platform to focus its eco-conscious, people- and planet-improving goals. Now, it's putting its money where its mouth is.

The apparel giant last year established a VC arm focused on alternative energies and more efficient manufacturing, called the Sustainable Business and Innovation Lab. And as you might expect by the name, it's combing Silicon Valley, Silicon Alley and beyond, looking for a few good start-ups promoting healthy/green lifestyles, technology and eco-friendly practices.Continue reading...