Hapag-Lloyd, Kuehne+Nagel take their 1st joint step toward sustainable ocean shipping

Photo: Hapag-Lloyd

Hapag-Lloyd announced May 11 that it and Kuehne+Nagel are further strengthening their longstanding partnership and, for the first time, collaborating on emission-reduced ocean transport solutions.

As part of this agreement, Kuehne+Nagel will utilize Hapag-Lloyd’s “Ship Green” product to reduce the carbon footprint of its ocean-freight shipments.

The agreement marks an important milestone in the relationship between the two companies.  

From April through December of this year, approximately 3,300 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) of cargo transported on the East Asia to North Europe trade lane will be covered under the agreement.

Through the use of certified waste- and residue-based biofuels, the initiative is expected to avoid around 2,979 metric tons of CO2e emissions on a well-to-wake basis.

“We are proud to take our partnership with Kuehne+Nagel to the next level,” said Danny Smolders, Hapag-Lloyd’s managing director of global sales.

“With Ship Green, we offer a scalable solution that enables our customers to actively reduce their scope 3 emissions today,” Smolders added. “This agreement shows how strong partnerships can translate into tangible climate impact.”

Paolo Montrone, Kuehne+Nagel’s head of trade global sea logistics, said, “Decarbonizing shipping requires transparency, collaboration and commercially viable solutions. By having strong partnerships, making emissions data transparent and enabling scope 3 reductions, we help customers navigate in a credible, market-based way designed to accelerate the uptake of alternative fuels. We are pleased to extend our collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd to make this come true.”

The agreement is based on a book-and-claim chain-of-custody mechanism that allows customers to claim verified emission reductions, regardless of the physical fuel allocation to specific vessels or routes.

Only emissions reductions from biofuel that has been used in Hapag-Lloyd’s operated fleet is allocated to Kuehne+Nagel.

This model enables scalable climate action, utilizing waste-based biofuel as a bridge solution.

Both companies are committed to ambitious climate goals.

Hapag-Lloyd aims to achieve net-zero fleet operations by 2045, while Kuehne+Nagel has committed to reaching net-zero emissions across the value chain by 2050.

Offering sustainable logistic solutions to customers is a key lever to achieve these goals.

By working together and leveraging sustainable marine fuels and the book-and-claim approach, Hapag-Lloyd said it and Kuehne+Nagel are contributing to the shipping industry’s transition toward a more sustainable future and energy independence.