Refurbishment program of Nike gives second life to returned shoes

American sporting company Nike has initiated a refurbishment scheme in which consumers can return Nike sneakers, which are either resold, donated, or recycled. The scheme extends the existence of three styles of footwear: almost new, lightly aged, and cosmetically imperfect.

The refurbishment program is part of Nike’s Move to Zero sustainability campaign, which aims to create a more circular consumer experience while minimizing waste.

When a shopper returns a pair of sneakers to Nike during the 60-day return timeframe, the Refurbished service is updated with appropriate footwear. To restore the shoes to their original state, a Nike team member inspects and refurbishes them by hand using various techniques and materials. Until being returned to the Nike shelf to be resold, the shoes are given a condition grade and priced accordingly. Customers can see the shoe’s past and condition grade by scanning a QR code on the box.

Gently used shoes that don’t make it into the Nike Refurbished scheme are donated to local community partners. If the shoes have reached the end of their useful life or are cosmetically damaged, they are recycled and made into new material and merchandise such as gym floors, tracks, courts, or new footwear by the Nike Grind machine.

The Nike Refurbished service is now available in 15 Nike stores throughout the United States, with hopes to extend to additional US retail locations in 2021.