Sport and fashion giant NIKE has partnered with CMA CGM on the use of more sustainable shipping fuels by purchasing biofuels for use with 36% of its cargo carried with the company. 

The eleven-month deal, part of CMA CGM’s ACT range of low carbon solutions, hopes to reduce CO2 emissions for Nike shipments by 25,000t as part of both companies aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. 

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

“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.” 

The French company’s 'ACT With CMA CGM' range of solutions was launched in 2020 to “support customers in decarbonising their supply chain” and also covers other alternative fuels such as LNG and biomethane. 

However, while CMA CGM has touted its efforts to reduce emissions, the company received a D grade on Ship It Zero’s decarbonisation scorecard in mid-2023, which particularly highlighted concerns over the industry’s reliance on biofuels and expressed scepticism over their role as a scalable solution for maritime’s needs. 

Nike’s use of biofuels with CMA CGM is part of the company’s Move to Zero initiative, which has included a range of partnerships around sustainability in the shipping industry, including its charter of Future Proof Shipping’s H2 Barge 1, the first hydrogen-powered zero-emission inland container ship.