Nike Repurposes Manufacturing and Footwear Waste for Exercise Equipment

Containing at least 20% of Nike Grind recycled rubber by volume, each dumbbell has a unique speckled pattern, with the combination of colours in the shredded blend dictated by the footwear colourways produced by the brand each season. The company has further capitalised on this one-off aspect across the rest of its Nike Strength fitness gear with “new batch, new colour” releases for barbell bumper plates, enticing shoppers with the limited-edition aspect.

Having started out as a grassroots programme in 1992, the Nike Grind initiative has so far recycled more than 140 million lbs of manufacturing waste – including rubber, foam, fibre, leather and textiles – into products for Nike and its partners. As well as Nike Strength products and soles for the brand’s footwear, the material’s versatile applications include rubber flooring, acoustic panels, playgrounds and pet accessories.

Shoppers’ desire to engage with circularity presents an exciting opportunity for brands to innovate their product offerings while drastically reducing waste streams. As explored in CMF Industry View: Activewear & Sports Equipment, 24/25, other sportswear companies are repurposing footwear waste for fitness gear. Fellow American brand Kane Footwear has released a yoga mat composed of its sugar-cane-based EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) foam footwear. Elsewhere, Swiss activewear brand On has launched its Cyclon subscription model, allowing runners to pay monthly for a pair of trainers that can be returned, recycled and replaced once worn out.