Comments about ‘BYU grad turns Nike scraps into NBA-quality sneakers’

I wonder if they have taken into account the electricity and man-power that it takes to cut, saw, arrange, etc. the shoe to make sure it really is less wasteful to use the scraps. For example, it takes many gallons of water to rinse out a paint roll (and the paint ends up in the streams) as opposed to buying a new one. I hope they have consider all that - I am all for cutting the waste and helping the environment!

It's made in Vietnam. The sewing machines are powered by little children. No pollution.

This is cool in a lot of ways but, as is made clear at the end of the story, not an economic win. An environmental win? Maybe a small one but hopefully Nike wasn't just sending its scraps to the land fill. There are surely many ways that sneaker scraps can be recycled and probably many of them make more sense than sewing them back together to make more shoes.

Ya gotta love what the BYU grad has accomplished here and it's great "green PR" for Nike.

Wouldn't it be easier to just shred the scraps and use them to pad playgrounds with?? More economical that way (as long as they're not toxic to begin with)??

Hey Carter, I'm sure they have taken into account all these factors in producing these shoes, otherwise it wouldn't be worth "going green" don't you think?! It's great PR for a company like Nike...but good gravy, give credit to where credit is due for someone who is "trying" to make the world better instead of collecting fake Nobel Prizes for opening his mouth on some fake data that he probably doesn't even understand.

Way to go Kasey! I'm impressed!

Awesome to see a local kid from Wasatch High and BYU doing great things in the design world, all while trying to make a positive difference. It didn't mention this in the article, but Kasey won Best in Show at the prestigious International Design Excellence Awards last year for his shoe design.

People being critical of the "green" benefits of the shoe aren't seeing the big picture in this breakthrough. It's refreshing to see that someone cares enough, has the ability to think outside of the normal design box, and do something that is beginning to take hold at Nike that could lead to greater "green" breakthroughs in the future.

I think that this is an excellent idea. I love to the analogy of casserole and meatloaf leftovers....very fitting for a former Utahn and BYU grad to come up with that.

Some have brought up legitimate points about the true "greenness" of this idea. But, I think that it's important to remember that this is not an "end all" solution for all shoe scrap waste. This is just one person's idea of a way to solve a problem. I'm sure that Mr. Jarvis had to go out on a limb to pitch this idea to Nike , Steve Nash and other stake holders involved with this project. Great job following through to make this vision a reality.

I like the design, and would consider them for that reason. It would be interesting to see a pair with different leather colours, or perhaps more contrasting stitching.

To Carter:
I would consider the high labor component a win for developing countries. Sorting and stitching those pieces may represent one day of employment at that country's prevailing wage.

Ernesto de Bajo:
Leather scraps the size indicated in the picture certainly ended up in the landfill. The industry standard low end use for leather scraps would be keychains, this is a new use for smaller pieces.

To Hmmm:
I am guessing that an absorbant material (like leather) would be a poor pad for playgrounds. Random scraps could be an inhalation hazards. You are, of course, talking about the rubber soles. Don't know how much material is wasted in the rubber process, or if recycled rubber is incorporated into the process. It would be interesting to find out.

I, for one, think it's awesome that a local guy is making such a big impact on the industrial design world. The award he won last year is no small feat, in fact it's like winning an oscar for best performance in design. It's refreshing that he's being recognized for his re-use of materials, along with the great design, rather than the oft-wasteful, elaborate designs that are usually celebrated. Congratulations Kasey.

I don't see how this is "green", don't get me wrong it is a very good idea but they should have been doing this from the beginning! I would simply call this a more complete use of their vast amounts of pollution causing, global warming inducing, preproduction material *tongue in cheek*. This is a "MARKETING" strategy aimed at people who don't know better. The reality is it takes more energy and resources to make one "Green Faker" than it does a single regular shoe, if it didn't they would not have to charge the same price! I would bet you they are even losing money on each one but the "feel good" advertising makes it all worth it.

If any of you Green hypocrites really wanted "earth friendly" shoes you would be wearing banana leaves tied onto your feet with minila fiber. I like the idea that they are being a good steward with their resources but lets not fool ourselves, or worse yet be fooled by someone else! Call it like it is and put political correctness to the side.

Strat/Carter is that you? Everything now-a-days (about "going green") is about MARKETING...are you kidding me?! How in the world do you think Al Gore got his coveted award? Everything is cyclical in that it will all come around again, and so will Al Gore and his polar ice caps.*tongue in cheek*...This article is about celebrating someone's accomplishments, about someone (local kid no less) who actually had the "kahones" to do something most of us would say later..."they should have done this from the beginning." -- which most of cynics tend to do, like me. But props to him for sticking his neck out on his career and in the money making world of Nike to actually suggest to that conglomerate to do something instead of standing on the sidelines and nit-picking. WOW...some people need to relax and take this article for what it is...An acknowledgment that somebody is TRYING to make this polluted world better.

I like that shoe!

Well Hugs I'm glad be both agree, at lest on the "green" part.

This local guy is not doing anything special, he is simply doing his job well ,like many other competent local people. I am very happy he is making money for Nike, it's good to see capitalism is still alive and well, at least for now....

p.s.- I'm not Carter, I am actually a guy from Alaska that wants to visit UT.

Strat, how would you know someone's intentions? Are you psychic? Give me break, everything we do like commenting on here has something to do with capitalism, other wise we wouldn't have this forum to comment on. You support capitalism by being on here so get off your high horse. What's your beef with capitalism anyway? And what does your ideaologies on capitalism have to do with this kid and his accomplishments like what the article is trying to portray? What have you contributed to society besides drinking kool aid and wanting to go to UT?
Hugs from the 5-0 state!

Great Shoe, I am buying a pair when I get back to the U.S.