Nike is extending its low-carbon ocean freight partnership with Ocean Network Express, part of a broader shift toward cleaner marine fuels. The move highlights how major shippers are using verified biofuel programs to cut emissions and strengthen Scope 3 accountability across their supply chains.
Biofuel Shipping Gains Momentum Across Global Trade Lanes
The renewed collaboration builds on Nike’s adoption of ONE’s “LEAF+” program, which lets customers transport goods using UCOME (Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester), a marine biofuel that cuts lifecycle carbon emissions by as much as 84% compared with conventional fuels. After delivery, ONE issues a third-party verified certificate quantifying the customer’s emissions savings. Shippers can choose different reduction levels, typically between 10% and 80%, based on cost and availability.
Nike first began using ONE LEAF+ in 2024, after working with the carrier on standard freight since 2018. The extension aligns with Nike’s broader 2030 climate targets: a 65% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 30% cut in Scope 3 emissions. The company reported a 29% Scope 3 reduction by fiscal year 2024, driven partly by its use of lower-carbon logistics. Industry data from the Global Maritime Forum shows biofuel uptake in container shipping has tripled since 2023, signaling growing demand from consumer brands seeking credible alternatives to fossil fuels.
Nike’s Broader Low-Carbon Logistics Strategy
The apparel giant’s ocean strategy reflects a diversified approach to decarbonization. In 2023, Nike joined forces with Future Proof Shipping to launch the world’s first hydrogen-powered inland container barge in Europe and later collaborated with Maersk on the first green methanol-powered vessel operating in U.S. waters. By the end of 2024, roughly a quarter of Nike’s inbound ocean units were shipped using biofuels, positioning it among the most aggressive adopters of alternative marine energy in retail logistics.
ONE senior vice president Gilberto Santos said in a statement that the partnership “demonstrates how major brands and carriers can jointly advance more sustainable supply chains.” Other carriers, including Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM, have launched comparable biofuel programs, signaling a broader industry transition from pilot to portfolio-scale adoption.
From Pilot Projects to Procurement Leverage
As more carriers offer certified biofuel programs, early adopters like Nike could soon gain negotiating power that extends beyond freight emissions. Verified carbon reductions are becoming tradable assets in sustainability reporting, influencing how brands account for, and even monetize, Scope 3 progress. For global logistics networks, that means decarbonization is shifting from a compliance exercise to a measurable form of competitive advantage.
