Nike is offering customers a new way to buy shoes, launching ‘Nike Refurbished’ in select stores in the US.
At its core, Nike Refurbished gives shoppers the opportunity to return a pair of their used shoes within 60 days of purchase.
From here, the shoe are graded into three categories: like new (worn for a day or two before being returned), gently worn (a little longer) and cosmetically flawed (as a result of a manufacturing error).
Rather than discarding of these shoes, Nike then gives ‘second life’ to the shoes via the refurbishment program, where a team works “to return shoes to as close to new condition as possible”, according to Nike.
Once refurbished, the shoes are then put back into a box and marked with the condition grade and more information.
The price is based on footwear type and condition grade.
Refurbished footwear is also covered by Nike’s 60-day wear test, meaning the shoes can be returned even in their second life.
Even if the shoes are truly unwearable, they will be recycled using ‘Nike Grind’ – a proprietary technology that helps create new materials out of Nike waste.
The Nike Refurbished initiative is part of a wider effort from the company to build a more sustainable future.
In 2019, Nike launched ‘Move to Zero’ as a pledge to move the company towards zero carbon and zero waste.
“Move to Zero works to both minimize Nike’s environmental footprint as a business and maximize avenues for positive impact as a brand,” Nike said at the time.
