Hong Kong – In its continuing bid to stay true to its promise of being a sustainable brand, the Hong Kong branch of global footwear brand Nike has unveiled its very first Nike Grand Court, which was made using around 20,000 used pairs of sneakers, which are recycled for this very purpose.
Located at the Kwai Chung residential neighborhood, the court, which is named the ‘Shek Lei Grind Court’, is made from Nike Grind materials, which are palettes of recycled and regenerated materials composed of plastic, rubber, foam, fiber, leather, textile and much more.
Nike’s purpose is to redefine human potential, and that’s what drives us to partner with those who have the same goal to make the world a better place. With a shared sustainable vision, renowned illustrator and toy designer James Jarvis has been invited to create colorful visuals on the courts’ Nike Grind surface. James Jarvis will be illustrating his signature sphere characters playing basketball on the courts, expanding his artistic expression to a new dimension.
Said initiative initially came to life in 1992 during a grassroots initiative to repurpose old shoes. Over the decades, it has developed into a global sustainability program that has and will continue to positively change the landfill landscapes forever.
“This local sustainable art project not only marks a new exploration for Nike Grind but also embraces all of Nike’s core values. By transforming and giving second life to this parent-child court, Nike will engage and link the community through sport activities and inspire people to unleash their fullest potential through sport. Shek Lei Grind Court provides the platform to Make Sport a Daily Habit while soaking up the storytelling creative vibe, making it an energetic emotional experience that will stretch beyond limits,” the company said in a press statement.
The newly-launched court will also help to foster physical activity among the children in the neighborhood, as most of them may have limited access to healthy sporty lifestyle as there is little leisure area and living space is extremely packed. The newly designed side-by-side kids and standard basketball court will serve and provide an accessible sports community hub for the less privileged kids and families.
The Nike Grind project launched in Hong Kong mirrors the company’s sentiment in modern times to become more sustainable, as their mantra ‘Move To Zero’ shows, with initiatives ranging from creating their latest apparel from at least 50% recycled Nike materials, releasing studies and insights about climate change and the circular economy, as well as initiating discussions, such as with popular pop singer Billie Eilish and marine biologist Elizabeth Johnson on speaking up about climate change.
