Nike received more than 600 applications from 58 countries. Thirty-five of those were selected as finalists to create either new products using Nike Grind, a palette of premium materials (rubber, foam, fiber, leather and textile blends) recovered in the footwear manufacturing and recycling process, or to improve upon the recycling process itself. Five groups won the Design with Grind Challenge, and one group was awarded for its Material Recovery fix. A large part of achieving those goals rests on how Nike makes its Air bags. Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation manufactures Air sole units from three facilities in the U.S., two of which are based in Oregon, near Nike’s World Headquarters, and one near St. Louis, Missouri. For more of the latest info on Nike’s commitments to reducing its impact on the planet, including how it will be powered by 100% renewable energy across North America by 2019 (and halfway toward reaching its worldwide goal by 2025)