2-4-08

Media Release

Nike General Manager to Speak on Sustainability

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Lorrie Vogel, the general manager of Nike’s Considered Design, will share why Nike chose to go green – and how the company incorporated environmental sustainability into its practices and designs – in a free public lecture at Oregon State University on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

The event is sponsored by OSU’s College of Business as part of the Sustainability Lecture Series. It will be held on campus at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center in Ballroom 110C from noon to 1:30 p.m.

“In the Considered Design, Nike has created a successful business case for sustainability,” said OSU College of Business Dean Ilene Kleinsorge. “Ms. Vogel’s message – that green doesn’t have to equal high cost – will especially resonate in our community.”

The title of Vogel’ speech will be “How Nike is Reducing Its Environmental Footprint and Incorporating Sustainability into Its Products.”

What began at Nike in 2005 with a single shoe – the award-winning Considered Boot – has evolved into a company-wide design philosophy. Nike’s Considered Design ethos embraces environmental sustainability principles without compromising product performance, company officials say, benefiting athletes and the environment. Considered Design strives to reduce toxins and waste, select eco-conscious materials and promote sustainable product innovation.

Vogel will discuss how innovation, performance, and sustainability work together in business. She will share how Nike achieves a culture in which every employee understands the company’s environmental footprint across its entire supply chain. Through specific examples, she will illustrate four key interrelated areas of focus that make the greatest environmental impact: energy, water, toxins and physical waste.

As the general manager of Nike’s Considered team, Vogel is responsible for introducing sustainable products and business models. Prior to this position she was the innovation director for Nike footwear, apparel and equipment.

Vogel has become a leading expert in design innovation. She started out as a toy designer working on products like "Speak and Spell," and then moved into advanced R&D for Texas Instruments where she conceptualized applications and products for emerging technologies.