CBH Group collaborates with Norden for marine biofuel pilot project

Photo: Norden

Australia’s largest cooperative and exporter of grain is reducing its maritime supply chain emissions as part of an Australian-first biofuels insetting pilot project in partnership with two global shipping giants.   

CBH Group has collaborated with Norden and Oldendorff by using waste-based biofuel voyages and book-and-claim solutions to transport Western Australian grain to the European Union.   

The biofuel-powered voyages achieved significant emission reductions compared to traditional fossil fuels at no additional cost to Western Australia growers, providing a practical response to new EU regulations impacting all ships over 5,000 gross tonnages calling at European ports.   

Part of the EU’s “Fit for 55” climate-legislation package, the regulations comprise a series of targets aimed at reducing CO2 emissions generated by marine transport.  

Shipping companies that don’t refuel (or “bunker”) with renewable fuel are subject to penalties, according to Norden, and many customers are choosing to incur these penalties instead of asking shipping companies to use biofuels.  

Pia Van Wyngaard, CBH’s head of shipping, said the cooperative had worked closely with shipping partners to leverage their biofuels expertise to lower CBH’s maritime supply-chain emissions.  

“We’re proud to be involved with projects that reduce our environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiencies and maximizing value for Western Australia growers,” Van Wyngaard said.  

“Customers, governments and communities are expecting stronger sustainability efforts, and we are working to ensure Western Australia growers remain competitive and can readily meet our customers’ needs,” Van Wyngaard added. “These initiatives allow us to lower our carbon footprint for access to key markets such as Europe and support CBH’s broader sustainability plan.”  

Van Wyngaard said that so far, eight voyages transporting Western Australian grain to Europe have used the shipping insetting method.