RNG-Powered Freight Operations Offer Roadmap for Tackling Scope 3 Emissions in Supply Chains

As pressure mounts on companies to account for emissions beyond their own facilities, a Wisconsin-based logistics initiative is showing how the freight sector can translate sustainability ambitions into operational reality. According to a PR Newswire release dated October 26, 2026, PTI is deploying renewable natural gas (RNG)-powered trucks as part of a broader effort to help carriers and shippers jointly reduce transportation-related emissions — a category that falls under Scope 3 in corporate greenhouse gas accounting frameworks. Scope 3 emissions, which encompass indirect emissions across a company's value chain including upstream and downstream transportation, have historically been among the most difficult for organisations to measure and mitigate. For many manufacturers, retailers, and commodity traders, freight movement represents one of the largest and least controllable contributors to their overall carbon footprint. PTI's approach, based out of De Pere, Wisconsin, centres on integrating RNG-fuelled vehicles into existing freight corridors handling critical goods. RNG, derived from organic waste sources such as landfills and agricultural operations, can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions significantly compared with conventional diesel, making it an increasingly attractive near-term option for fleets not yet positioned to transition to battery-electric or hydrogen powertrains. The initiative reflects a growing recognition within the logistics and supply chain sector that decarbonisation cannot be achieved by shippers or carriers acting in isolation. Collaborative models — where shippers commit to volume or premium pricing in exchange for lower-emission transport options — are emerging as a practical mechanism to accelerate fleet upgrades without placing the full financial burden on carriers. For the maritime industry, the implications are notable. Port drayage, intermodal connections, and landside logistics form a critical link in global supply chains, and Scope 3 reporting requirements — increasingly mandated by regulators in the European Union and under consideration in other jurisdictions — are pushing cargo owners to scrutinise emissions at every node of the transport chain, including the first and last mile. As international shipping continues its own decarbonisation journey under IMO 2030 and 2050 targets, initiatives like PTI's RNG freight programme underscore the importance of aligning landside and seaborne logistics strategies to deliver credible, end-to-end emissions reductions for global shippers.