Nike has opened a new distribution centre powered entirely by renewable energy as part of its ambition to reduce its carbon footprint to zero.

The company says the 1.5 million square feet centre, called the Court, in the Belgian town of Ham, is fuelled by wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biomass power.

The Court’s rack-supported structure required less steel and concrete, minimising waste and reducing material used in the construction process.

The facility is also close to a network of canals, enabling 99% of inbound containers to reach the local container park by water, eliminating the need for an estimated 14,000 lorry journeys each year.

And more than 95% of the waste generated on-site will be recycled. For instance, pathways used by employees around the facility are made from recycled footwear material.

The distribution centre expands Nike’s European Logistics Campus, which opened in 1994 and is today comprised of six distribution facilities across the Belgian towns of Ham, Laakdal, Meerhout and Herentals.

Nike says new capabilities, such as single-order consolidation and faster digital shipments, make it possible for the facility to ship a single order as efficiently as an order of 10,000.

“Our new Court Distribution Centre represents Nike’s continued investment in a fast and flexible supply chain to deliver the full range of our product to consumers when they want it, where they want it,” says Eric Sprunk, Nike Chief Operating Officer.

“This state-of-the-art facility will increase our responsiveness as we accelerate our digital growth and better serve millions of consumers across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.”

Courtesy: EcoTextile News