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Corporate Update

Nike Brings Electric Barges To Vietnam To Cut Supply Chain Emissions

• By  Textile Excellence
• October 31, 2026

An electric barge, renewable power and a strong partnership are helping Nike take a cleaner route through Vietnam’s waterways.

Nike is giving its supply chain a cleaner ride in Vietnam. The company has teamed up with shipping giant CMA CGM and logistics provider Gemadept to launch the country’s first fully electric river barge, a move that could take a sizeable chunk out of its transportation emissions.

The barge will ferry Nike products between the company’s inland drop-off location in Ho Chi Minh City and the Gemalink deep-sea terminal in Cai Mep. That’s a round trip of more than 100 miles, with zero direct greenhouse gas emissions.

And it won't be running on just any electricity. Its batteries will be recharged using certified renewable power supplied through a solar farm at the terminal. The project is expected to avoid around 778 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year.

For Nike, this is about more than putting an electric vessel on the water. It is about rethinking how products move through its global supply chain and working with logistics partners to make lower-carbon transport a practical reality.

Transport is a big part of the emissions challenge

Nike is targeting four areas to reduce emissions across its value chain: transportation, materials, manufacturing and its own operations. In transport, the company is working to reduce air freight, scale up lower-carbon maritime fuels and expand the use of electric vehicles.

The efforts are beginning to show results. Emissions from inbound and outbound transportation fell by 56% in FY25 compared with FY20.

The electric barge adds another solution to this mix and supports Nike’s 2030 Science-Based Targets, which include cutting greenhouse gas emissions across its extended supply chain by 35 percent from the FY20 baseline.

Partnerships make the difference

Nike sees collaboration with suppliers, industry peers and strategic partners as essential to taking these solutions beyond individual projects. Its wider sustainability efforts also cover reducing waste, conserving water, scaling circular solutions, protecting forests and advancing cleaner chemistry.

Nike’s message is clear: cleaner transport is not just about replacing diesel with batteries. It is about building a supply chain that is more efficient, resilient and ready for a lower-carbon future, while continuing to serve athletes reliably.

“Reducing emissions across a global supply chain takes more than any one company. It takes new ideas, strong partnerships and a willingness to rethink how we operate. This project is a great example of how we can turn innovation into practical solutions that reduce our impact while strengthening the resilience of our supply chain.” - Cimarron Nix, Chief Sustainability Officer, NIKE, Inc.