Is Nike ethical and sustainable?
Nike has been measured by the Sustainable Brand Index – the largest independent study of sustainability and brands in Europe – across 5 Nordic markets.
Is Nike ethical?
The Sustainable Brand Index does not audit companies. It measures how consumers see a brand's environmental and social responsibility, which is close to what most people mean by ethical. On that measure, Nike ranks #101 in Denmark in 2026, its strongest of 5 markets. A lower number is better.
Key takeaways
- Strongest market today: Denmark at 101st (2026).
- All-time best result: 51st in the Netherlands (2017).
- Biggest year-over-year improvement in Norway: moved up 35 positions from 2025 to 2026.
- Biggest year-over-year drop in Finland: slipped 50 positions from 2025 to 2026.
- Measured for 11 years (2016–2026) across 5 markets.
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Nike's ranking trend
Lower is better · #1 = most sustainable in marketAnnual position within each country's full brand universe, 2016–2026.
🇫🇮Nike in Finland
Clothes & Fashion - Brands| Year | Rank in Finland |
|---|---|
| 2020 | #174 |
| 2021 | #163 |
| 2022 | #177 |
| 2023 | #174 |
| 2024 | #192 |
| 2025 | #165 |
| 2026 | #215 |
🇩🇰Nike in Denmark
Clothes & Fashion - Brands| Year | Rank in Denmark |
|---|---|
| 2020 | #139 |
| 2021 | #84 |
| 2022 | #64 |
| 2023 | #95 |
| 2024 | #86 |
| 2025 | #113 |
| 2026 | #101 |
🇳🇴Nike in Norway
Clothes & Fashion - Brands| Year | Rank in Norway |
|---|---|
| 2020 | #104 |
| 2021 | #103 |
| 2022 | #154 |
| 2023 | #114 |
| 2024 | #159 |
| 2025 | #178 |
| 2026 | #143 |
🇸🇪Nike in Sweden
Clothes & Fashion - Brands| Year | Rank in Sweden |
|---|---|
| 2016 | #185 |
| 2017 | #164 |
| 2018 | #146 |
| 2019 | #161 |
| 2020 | #237 |
| 2021 | #156 |
| 2022 | #138 |
| 2023 | #146 |
| 2024 | #243 |
| 2025 | #234 |
| 2026 | #238 |
🇳🇱Nike in the Netherlands
Clothes & Fashion| Year | Rank in the Netherlands |
|---|---|
| 2017 | #51 |
| 2018 | #102 |
| 2019 | #69 |
| 2020 | #96 |
| 2021 | #76 |
| 2022 | #118 |
| 2023 | #128 |
| 2024 | #132 |
| 2025 | #138 |
| 2026 | #114 |
Want to know what's behind Nike's ranking?
The full brand report shows your sustainability score, what's driving it, how you compare to competitors, and where you're exposed – with 16 years of trend data.
Questions about Nike
Is Nike a sustainable brand?
Nike has been measured by the Sustainable Brand Index since 2016. Most recent rankings: Finland #215 (2026); Denmark #101 (2026); Norway #143 (2026); Sweden #238 (2026); the Netherlands #114 (2026). Lower rank numbers mean consumers see the brand as more sustainable.
Is Nike ethical?
The Sustainable Brand Index does not audit companies. It measures how consumers see a brand's environmental and social responsibility, which is close to what most people mean by ethical. On that measure, Nike ranks #101 in Denmark in 2026, its strongest of 5 markets. A lower number is better.
How sustainable is Nike in Finland?
In Finland, Nike ranks #215 in 2026 (industry: Clothes & Fashion - Brands). Its best position was #163 in 2021.
How sustainable is Nike in Denmark?
In Denmark, Nike ranks #101 in 2026 (industry: Clothes & Fashion - Brands). Its best position was #64 in 2022.
How sustainable is Nike in Norway?
In Norway, Nike ranks #143 in 2026 (industry: Clothes & Fashion - Brands). Its best position was #103 in 2021.
How sustainable is Nike in Sweden?
In Sweden, Nike ranks #238 in 2026 (industry: Clothes & Fashion - Brands). Its best position was #138 in 2022.
How sustainable is Nike in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, Nike ranks #114 in 2026 (industry: Clothes & Fashion). Its best position was #51 in 2017.
Where does this data on Nike come from?
From the Sustainable Brand Index, an independent consumer study run by SB Insight since 2011, with more than 80,000 interviews a year in Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Source: Sustainable Brand Index 2026, SB Insight.
About the ranking
The Sustainable Brand Index measures how consumers perceive a brand's sustainability – both environmental and social responsibility. Rankings are based on annual surveys of more than 80,000 consumers across Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands. Brands are ranked within their industry and country.
Read the full methodology →