I thought since our book uses Nike as a sample company that it would be appropriate to have at least one discussion around what Nike is doing in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility.
Nike just released the "green" version of Air Jordan's. This version of Air Jordan's has been designed to be more environmentally friendly by using materials that are less toxic and by cutting down on the amount of waste.
Here is a link to the article that was in the January 10, 2008 Fortune:http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/09/magazines/fortune/gunther_nike.fortune/index.htm
One thing that jumped out at my was the price of the shoes- $230! I couldn't help but think that there was an interesting dichotomy here. On the one hand, Nike seems to be taking charge and trying to do something for the environment. On the other hand, how likely is it that the "average" person can afford these shoes? We've talked at great lengths about stakeholders in a company. Who would you say benefits from this move? Is there a group of stakeholders that doesn't benefit? Let's hear your thoughts!
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Nike stockholders are actually the only stakeholders who will benefit from this "green version" of AIR JORDANS. Enviornmentalist can't really apllaud NIKE for this. Since its probably a limit production shoe with about only 5000 made. That dosent change the devastating enviornment really. The biggest losers in this are the customers. That is if they actually buy a $230 dollar shoe that will probably biodegrate itself in 10 years. This is just a scheme, nothing else.
i think that it is pretty stupid to charge such a high price for environmentally friendly products because it is not being consumer friendly. and with all the other shoes still being non eco conscious it doesn't really help anything at all. so instead of the shoes costing so much they should actually cost less than the other shoes in the air jordan line.
i think its good to go green, but not just a little bit. they put out the shoes for a) people who will rather pay more money for a green shoe, and b) so people will think that nike is being green, and will then by less expensive nikes because they are happy with the brand. i don't think the shoes hurts or benefits stockholders other than in regards to sales. if it sells, then stock will go up. but that is no different for a green shoe than any other shoe. it is a good attempt, but nike should have larger range of green shoes. and to juan- its 50,000 shoes, not 5,000.
It seems like just another marketing scheme to increase sales. If Nike was really concerned for the environment they would make environmentally friendly shoes that more people around the world can afford. The benefit on the environment from a $230 shoe or a $98,000 electric car is very limited because the average person can’t afford these things. Nike still throws away over $800 million worth of materials annually; I think they should be more concerned with trying to reduce this number as it would benefit the company the most. If they do reduce the amount of waste, the companies that provide Nike with these materials will most likely suffer.
I’ve always supported companies that strive to go “green”. However, what Nike is doing by offering Air Jordan’s environmentally friendly shoes for the price that average person can’t afford, in my opinion, is just exploiting CSR in its own purposes. Consequently, the stakeholders that wouldn’t benefit from those steps are the majority of people that don’t have possibility to buy the product, price of which is inflated. On the other hand, Nike itself would be the stakeholder who will be benefited because they are resisting against the pollution and in the same moment making colossal profits.
I have to agree with my classmates when it comes to Nike and their "new" headliner about their green shoe. Although the air jordans are considered iconic, it's still to much to pay for such a shoe. Even if all of the stars and athletes wear them, most people won't be able to afford them. It's just a marketing campaign that Nike is doing with their green shoes. It's not a sufficient amount of shoes to change our environment. If Nike wants to "go green", they should make a shoe that is eco-friendly and has a much lower price tag.
I just think Nike is going for that extra dollar. They have already established themselves globally, all I think they are doing is expanding to people who are nature freaks. They are so expensive that I would rather run on hot coals barefoot before making a purchase that wasteful. If you think these shoes make a difference in this earth's health then I feel sorry for you.
I think it is a cool thing NIKE wants to go green but the price is a little silly. I would not spend that amount of money on any pair of shoes no matter how good they are for you and the earth. Going green with shoes is a great thing but there are still many things out in teh world still hurting it and spending $230 is hurting my pocket. If I were ever to think about buying the shoes I would have to ask how long will they last or am I going have to spend another $230 in a month or two. The only people benefiting from this I think is NIKE, because there are people who would spend that kinda money for those kinds of shoes yet on the other hand many don't have that kind of money. If people choose not to buy these shoes hen NIKE won't benefit from it either.
Any company that decides to go green is ok with me. Although it doesnt seem like it will help anything considering the price of the shoe is out of most peoples prce range of living. So who are they really helping? i dont think anyone. They want to go green and the point of a company going green is so that people who are common folk who want to go green buys the product..but in this case its way to much so i think that NIKE will get nothing accomplished by doing this. Still their efforts obviously went noticed and we can recongnize that.
I think its good that they are going green and helpin with the enviroment. it seem like alot of people are trying to clean up the amount of waste we produce but are using that to their advantage by marketing it. companies are saying that they are going green so more consumers will buy their product, even if it is a gym shoe for $230!
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