Nike recently announced its latest progress in circularity. Counting from the Reuse-a-Shoe program launched at select U.S. stores in 1995, the sportswear brand has been exploring this direction for nearly three decades, and its consumer-facing circular services now span multiple global markets.

According to the company, as an upgraded form of Reuse-a-Shoe, Nike's current Recycle & Donate program accepts not only end-of-life footwear but also apparel. Collected products are first inspected and sorted, with condition determining whether they are donated or routed to recycling channels. Meanwhile, Nike Refurbished resells returned footwear and apparel that, after inspection and cleaning, remain nearly new or have only minor flaws, extending their useful life. Nike disclosed that products sold through this channel have reached 2 million units to date.

Beyond recycling and resale, cleaning and repair are also part of the strategy to extend product lifecycles. This year, Nike piloted in-store sneaker cleaning services in Europe and Mexico; to help consumers care for products at home, the brand published care guidance on its website and offers cleaning kits at select stores. The company also said it is developing repair service partners, scaling in specific regions, and assessing the possibility of entering new markets.

In quantitative terms, Nike said finished product waste (FPW) processed through refurbishment, recycling, or donation in fiscal 2025 was 6.3 times that of fiscal 2020. The company's original target was 10x, which it did not meet, explaining that improved product design and manufacturing efficiency reduced overall unsold product volumes. For the used-clothing and textile circularity industry, the takeaway is this: when upstream brands cut inventory and total waste through more efficient production and sales, the supply available to downstream recycling and resale channels shrinks accordingly, and growth in processing multiples may not reflect changes in absolute recycling scale.

Source: Nike - Advancing Circular Solutions · Originally published 2026-09-19