Nike Continues Trend Toward Sustainability with New Partnership

Sportswear and apparel leader Nike has taken another major step toward sustainability by partnering with French shipping group CMA CGM. Under the agreement, Nike will purchase sustainable biofuel to power 36% of its maritime cargo. 

The initiative is expected to reduce Nike’s CO2 emissions by 25,000 tons and is a crucial part of the company’s larger Move to Zero initiative, which aims to reach a net zero carbon footprint in its shipping operation by 2050. 

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“Collaborating with a key player like Nike and taking this major step towards decarbonization is an important achievement,” said Olivier Nivoix, executive vice president of CMA CGM Group Lines. 

In 2020, CMA CGM introduced its “ACT With CMA CGM” range of solutions, providing clients with a variety of low-carbon, alternative energy options including biofuel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and biomethane. 

While this partnership will help Nike in reducing its carbon footprint, other companies have struggled with embedding sustainability into their workflows.  A recent study by the IBM Institute for Business Value of 5,000 C-Suite Executives revealed that nearly half (47%) struggle to fund sustainability investments while 60% admit to making trade-offs between financial and sustainability outcomes.

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Nike is hoping others follow in their path toward sustainability. 

“We are confident that our success will act as a catalyst, encouraging other carriers and customers to join us on this path to accelerate the transition towards a Net Zero industry,” Nivoix said.