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Nike opens basketball courts made from recycled runners in Hong Kong

Robert Stockdill

Robert Stockdill

Used runners have been repurposed into a safe sports surface atop Hong Kong’s Shek Lei Shopping Centre at Kwai Chung in an extension of a recycling initiative by sportswear giant Nike.  Some 20,000 worn-out shoes have been converted into a substance called Nike Grind, which blends recycled and regenerated plastic, rubber, foam, fibre, leather, textiles and other materials to create a basketball court surface. Nike Grind dates back to a grassroots initiative to repurpose old shoes in the US back in 1992 which has so far repurposed more than 32 million pairs of sneakers. Over successive decades, it has developed into a global sustainability program that Nike says will continue to positively change landfill landscapes forever.  Now the program has been launched in Hong Kong – which has a vibrant sneaker culture – and the new court is a working demonstration of what can be achieved when people return shoes to be repurposed rather than toss them out to end up in landfills.  Collection points have been established which accept all athletic sneakers (but not sandals, dress shoes, boots, or shoes with metal fittings like cleats or spikes). The used sneakers will be recycled and given a new life by a local creative studio.
Nike opens basketball courts made from recycled runners in Hong Kong
A collection point for used runners.
The court at Shek Lei has a court top designed by illustrator and toy designer James Jarvis adding a colourful attraction which can be seen from hundreds of surrounding apartments.  Nike wants Shek Lei Grind Court to serve as a community hub where less privileged youth can play, engage and build self-esteem through active participation in sport. To kick the initiative off, Nike is partnering with InspiringHK Sports Foundation, a local NGO that aims to promote social mobility and inclusion through kids and youth engagement in sports, using the court to benefit kids and youth to experience the power of sports. The space was chosen because it is surrounded by about 10 schools and within the grassroots community, children may have limited access to a healthy sporty lifestyle as there is little leisure area and living space is extremely packed. The side-by-side kids- and standard-sized basketball courts will serve as an accessible sports community hub for the less privileged kids and families.
Nike opens basketball courts made from recycled runners in Hong Kong
Kids learn basketball on the Nike Grind-surfaced court.
“At Nike, we know that the future of sport is directly connected to the future of our planet,” said Nike’s chief sustainability officer Noel Kinder. “Every company has a footprint, and we want our footprint to help shape a better world. To do that, we’re harnessing Nike’s innovative spirit and scaling sustainable solutions to reduce waste and combat climate change,” he said. “Nike Grind is a testament to the power of Nike innovation and to our journey of pioneering and exploring sustainable solutions. Shek Lei Grind Court highlights how Nike Grind can turn waste into new opportunities for athletes to make sport a daily habit.”
Robert Stockdill

Robert Stockdill

Robert Stockdill is a content writer with more than 30 years of experience in five countries. His style has built upon award-winning success in news and features in the print media to leadership in digital communication, spanning news websites, social media, magazines, brochures, and contributing to books. Recognising the devastating impact of consumer behaviour on the planet and wanting to help make a difference Robert launched Viable.Earth as a platform to celebrate positive contributions by brands, companies and individuals towards reducing environmental impact and improve sustainability – especially in the fields of fashion, beauty, food, lifestyle, and transportation.
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