• Loading stock data...
Sunday, July 6, 2025

‘Bloodbath’: Nike Reportedly Made Big Cuts on Sustainability Teams

  • ProPublica and The Oregonian reported that Nike made deep cuts in sustainability efforts.
  • It’s the latest in a barrage of bad headlines for the corporate giant.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this year, Nike cut wide swaths of employees, laying off staff in an effort to cut costs ahead of what would be a disastrous earnings call this summer.

In the months since those costs, local media in Oregon have dug into exactly who lost their jobs at the sportswear giant. Who were those 1,500 people that Nike let go, including the 700 jobs in Oregon?

The first answer: executives. Last week, The Oregonian reported that among the 700 job cuts in the state, nearly half were vice presidents, senior directors, and directors.

This week, the same reporter—partnering with ProPublica—found another disproportionate source of job cuts: sustainability.

Nike laid off about one-fifth of its employees working on sustainability, the Oregonian/ProPublica review found, a far greater proportion than the 2% worldwide cuts and 7% cuts in Oregon. Another tenth of those employees have quit or been reassigned, the review found.

There were earlier signs that Nike’s vaunted commitments to reducing its carbon footprint were wavering. “Its emissions have instead grown slightly since 2015,” The Oregonian and ProPublica reported.

The outlets wrote Nike would not confirm their conclusions on the cuts, but the company did make its “chief sustainability officer” available for an interview. She told the reporters, “We’re not walking away from sustainability. I mean, full stop. We are committed,” but explained that in the cost-cutting era, they had embraced an “embedding” approach that made sustainability something every employee had to focus on.

One former Nike employee told the news outlets that the job cuts amounted to a “sustainability bloodbath.”

It’s the latest in what appears to be a never-ending streak of bad headlines for the longtime dominant power in apparel and sneakers. In June, a poor earnings call—revenue was down 2%, unacceptable to Wall Street—brought the knives out. Late last year, Nike stock was trading above $120 a share; this week, the stock was trading closer to $70. And the company is suffering away from the Street, too. Analysts have hinted at “regime change”; the Financial Times wrote this week that the company’s “turnaround efforts” were failing; sneakerheads blasted their products as “stale.”

If there’s any solace for Nike in the ProPublica story, it’s that sustainability appears to be one area in which its competitors are joining them in a race to the bottom.

“If you have conversations with CEOs in the industry, they will admit that it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish what has been committed to years ago,” a former McKinsey executive was quoted as saying. “Realistically, we’re going to see a wave of companies changing the targets or postponing the timeline.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Donald Trump

Trump Bill Has $1.6 Billion for Olympics, World Cup Security

Host cities have lobbied for federal funding to help with security costs.
Bill Ackman
exclusive

Billionaire Bill Ackman Prepares for ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Tennis Match in..

Ackman says he’s “peaking next week” at the Hall of Fame Open.

Hot Dog Maven George Shea on Chestnut Comeback and Investor Interest

George Shea runs a real estate PR firm and Major League Eating.
Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) passes the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field.

California AG Says Daily Fantasy Sports Are Illegal

The AG rejected arguments that DFS are games of skill, not chance.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
A Lululemon store at Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township, New Jersey on Nov. 30, 2023

Sportswear Stocks Rise as Trump Touts Vietnam Trade Deal

Tariffs on Vietnam imports will be 20%, down from a prior threat of 46%.
Jun 20, 2024; Eugene, OR, USA; Detailed view of Nike Alphafly 3 racing flat at the Nike by Eugene store.
June 25, 2025

Investors Hunt for Signs Nike Has Regained Its Footing

Nike’s fundamentals are “still challenged.”
From vintage to unique collaborations, various Nike and Jordan shoes are displayed on a wall at Saved Soles inside West Ridge Mall.
June 26, 2025

Nike Stumbles Less Than Expected, Giving Wall Street Hope

The sports apparel and footwear giant beats Wall Street expectations.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Jun 15, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; JJ Spaun putts on the 18th green to win during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament.
June 16, 2025

‘Pandemonium’: Putter Maker Sees Sales Surge After JJ Spaun’s U.S. Open Win

The company behind Spaun’s putter is already in talks with his people.
June 13, 2025

U.S. Open Merch Pops Thanks to Oakmont’s Squirrel, Viral TikToks

There are more than 400,000 pieces of merchandise available at Oakmont.
Tom's Watch Bar
June 12, 2025

How the Pacers and Caitlin Clark Boosted One Bar’s Bottom Line

Tom’s Watch Bar hosted John Haliburton for at least five games.
June 12, 2025

U.S. Open Cashing In on Signature Cocktail Trend With Lemon Wedge

Last year, the whiskey cocktail was served more than 50,000 times.