Earlier this month, Nike opened a new distribution center in Ham, Belgium that the company said is powered entirely by locally-generated renewable energy. In a blog post, the apparel giant noted the facility is the latest milestone in the company’s move to zero carbon and zero waste.
At 1.5 million square feet, Nike’s new “Court” distribution center operates completely from wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biomass power. The company states that compared to a traditional warehouse, the Court’s rack-supported structure required less steel and concrete, minimizing waste and material used in its construction.
“Our new Court Distribution Center 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,” said 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.”
The facility expands Nike’s European Logistics Campus in Belgium, which opened in 1994 and is now comprised of six distribution centers across Ham, Laakdal, Meerhout and Herentals.
Nike also notes that besides railways and highways, the Court’s surrounding infrastructure includes a network of canals, which enable 99 percent of inbound containers to reach the local container park by water—eliminating approximately 14,000 truck journeys each year. The company also said more than 95 percent of waste generated on-site is recycled.
