Maersk’s Sustainable Shipping Initiatives: Advancing Green Maritime Logistics

As a global leader in integrated logistics, Maersk has recognised the urgent need to address the environmental impact of maritime logistics. About 3% of emissions are from the shipping sector worldwide, thus necessitating sustainable practice. In this regard, the company is raising a very ambitious strategy to deeply transform the company towards absolute net zero by 2040. The vision has a strong line-up of concrete actions and partnerships aimed at significantly reducing and significantly sustaining the company’s carbon footprint and stewardship in the maritime sphere.

Maersk’s Sustainability Efforts in Shipping

Maersk has taken significant steps to make its shipping operations more sustainable. Through carbon reduction strategies, eco-friendly fuels, and industry collaborations, the company is leading the way in green maritime logistics.

How Maersk is Reducing Carbon Emissions?

Maersk has made very brave steps in limiting greenhouse gas emissions for all its operations. By the year 2030, the company is going to have a 34.7% reduction for absolute scope 1 emissions and that of 21.9% for absolute scope 3 emissions using the year 2022 as the baseline. In addition to this, Maersk commits to a total reduction of 96.2% in absolute well-to-wake scope 1 and 3 emissions by container shipping operations by 2040.
In its effort to realise these goals, Maersk companies improve energy efficiency across the fleet. In 2024, the company posted an Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI) of 11.1 grams of CO₂ equivalent for every tonne-nautical mile, a record low for the second consecutive year.

Investments in Eco-Friendly Fuel Alternatives

Switching to sustainable fuels is Maersk’s main decarbonisation strategy. It has put funds into biodiesel, green methanol, and biomethane as alternative fuels. Maersk also launched the world’s first methanol-enabled container vessel in September 2023 to prove that green methanol is feasible as a low-emission fuel within maritime transportation.

Industry Collaborations for Sustainable Growth

Recognising the need for every industry to come together, Maersk plays an active part in active collective engagement across its industry stakeholders to promote sustainable shipping. The company signed a long-term agreement with companies in renewable energy long ago, such as China’s LONGi Green Energy Technology, to guarantee a steady supply of bio-methanol for its dual-fuel vessels.

Green Fuel and Carbon-Neutral Vessels

Maersk is transforming its fleet with green fuel alternatives and carbon-neutral vessels. By adopting methanol-powered ships, biofuels, and energy-efficient designs, the company is reducing its environmental footprint in global shipping.

Maersk’s Methanol-Powered Ship

The Danish shipping company is leading the world in deploying methanol-enabled vessels to cut carbon emissions. In particular, Maersk has just commissioned its first methanol-enabled container ship in 2023 – the Ane Maersk. On top of that, Maersk commissioned six additional methanol capabilities, each capable of carrying 9,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and expected for delivery between 2026 and 2027.
These ships are projected to reduce the annual greenhouse gases emitted by approximately 450,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent when operating on green methanol.

Biofuels and LNG: Reducing Environmental Impact

Besides methanol, Maersk investigates alternative fuels to lessen environmental impact. The company introduced into its operations second – generation biodiesel from waste oils, achieving over 80% greenhouse gas emission reduction on a well-to-wake basis.
Although liquefied natural gas can be regarded as a transitional fuel, Maersk is still very careful about this fuel use because of the leakage of methane and because of what it offers in environmental benefits.

Energy Efficiency in Modern Ship Designs

The new energy-efficient ship design intended to be used in the fleet is gradually being introduced at Maersk. Aerodynamic hull designs and other energy-saving techniques have been incorporated as ways to reduce fuel consumption. Maersk has achieved an EEOI of 11.1 grams of CO₂ equivalent per tonne-nautical mile to show continuous improvements in vessel efficiency in 2024.

Sustainable Logistics Beyond Shipping

Maersk’s sustainability efforts extend beyond ocean shipping. The company is implementing green solutions across inland transport, warehouses, and port operations to reduce its overall carbon footprint.

Electrifying Inland Transport and Warehouses

From a very traditional point of view, Maersk’s sustainability programmes basically extend to everything besides the maritime – into the inland transport and warehousing sectors. In either, they clearly aim at electrifying everything concerning inland transportation; that is obviously the trucks, of course, and then anything that is also involved with handling and distribution, such as forklifts. The other interesting thing is that they are also augmenting their use of renewable electricity toward their 100% target for 2030.

AI-Powered Route Optimisation for Fuel Savings

Using AI, Maersk optimises shipping routes to enhance fuel economy and emissions reduction on two fronts. One is that much data are analysed so that AI algorithms can decide on the best possible routes with minimum fuel consumption while ensuring optimal delivery of the consignment. Such technical improvements thus contribute to Maersk’s global sustainable objectives.

Using Shore Power to Reduce Port Emissions

In efforts to further reduce emissions while in port, Maersk is actively implementing shore power solutions in various ports. Shore solutions allow ships to connect to the electrical grid at the port, thus reducing fuel consumption and emissions during port stay from auxiliary engines.

Waste Reduction and Circular Economy in Shipping

Maersk is actively integrating circular economy principles into its operations to minimise waste and promote sustainability.

Recycling and Reusing Ship Components

In an effort to further make its ships more recyclable, Maersk has done a “cradle-to-cradle passport” for its own vessels, tracking or defining each material in every ship, enabling the correct recycling at the end of the ship’s life. Obtain a Waste-Free Lifespan: Maersk has sought the isolation of waste produced by decommissioned ships by concluding to utilise only reusable or valuable materials for resources, which replaces the requirement for extracting new resources.

Cutting Single-Use Plastics in Supply Chains

Maersk is committed to reducing single-use plastics within its supply chains. The company has implemented measures to minimise plastic waste by promoting the use of reusable materials and encouraging suppliers to adopt sustainable packaging solutions. These efforts contribute to decreasing plastic pollution in marine environments and support global sustainability goals.

Sustainable Packaging and Cargo Handling

Maersk involves sustainable components of packaging and cargo handling. The company works closely with customers and partners in developing solutions for packaging to minimise waste and protect the environment. Moreover, it invests in energy-efficient and sustainable handling processes and technologies that factor in cargo handling, even more fulfilling its environmental promise.

Compliance with Global Environmental Standards

Maersk aligns its operations with international environmental regulations to ensure responsible and sustainable practices.

Meeting IMO Carbon Reduction Targets

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), when it comes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, has set up extremely ambitious targets. In line with these goals, Maersk is taking measures to outrun the carbon reduction objectives set by the IMO; these measures include investments in fuel-efficient vessels, the use of alternative fuels, and reducing emissions through operational efficiencies.

How Maersk Aligns with EU Emission Rules?

Maersk is taking an active role in the European Union regulation that aims to reduce emissions from the maritime sector. The company supports policies that reward uptake of green technologies and also supports the development of frameworks that promote sustainability. In this manner, Maersk aligns itself with EU emission rules so as to practise due diligence and regulatory compliance for the well-being of the environment.

Transparency in Carbon Reporting

The company promotes transparency for its environmental impact reporting. It gives thorough disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and achievements against sustainability targets. This transparency allows stakeholders to measure Maersk’s environmental performance and hold it accountable to its commitments.

The Business Impact & Benefits of Maersk’s Green Initiatives

Maersk’s sustainability efforts yield significant business advantages, including cost savings and enhanced market positioning.

Cost Savings and Long-Term Benefits

Investments by Maersk in energy-efficient technologies and alternative fuels have resulted in reduced operational costs in respect of fuel consumption. These initiatives are not only contributing to the environmental sustainability regime but will also provide financial benefits over the long term through reduced dependency on traditional fuels and decreased exposure to volatile energy prices.

Stronger Market Position with Sustainable Logistics

Sustainable shipping remains at the core of Maersk’s overall strategy, and therefore, it has strengthened their competitive positioning in the logistics industry. With a strategic focus on eco-friendly initiatives, the company attracts customers and partners concerned with environmental issues who seek sustainable supply chain solutions. Thus, such a focus helps Maersk remain a preferred choice in a sustainability-centric market.

Customer Demand for Low-Carbon Shipping

There is quite an increasing customer demand for low-carbon shipping. Maersk’s commitment to emission reductions and sustainable logistics services is now being aligned with customer preferences; hence, the relationships are getting stronger, and the company is responding to the changing expectations of a global market.

The Future of Maersk’s Green Shipping Model

Maersk has been continuously innovating on sustainable shipping practices and setting benchmarks for the industry.
The company would continue investments in alternative fuel technologies, reduce energy consumption within the fleet, and mobilise industry stakeholders around systemic change to sustainability. In this way, keeping its agenda on environmental responsibility, Maersk wants to pull the maritime industry into a more sustainable and resilient future.

FAQs

1) How does sustainable shipping help reduce emissions?

By adopting alternative fuels, improving energy efficiency, and practising operational methods that minimise environmental impacts, sustainable shipping reduces emissions. Collectively, these measures help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions emanating from maritime activities.

2) What challenges do biofuel-powered ships face?

Challenges that biofuel-powered ships face include the availability and scalability of sustainable biofuels, higher costs as compared to conventional fuels, and the establishment of infrastructure for biofuel distribution and storage.

3) What types of biofuels are used in these ships?

Commonly used biofuels in shipping include biodiesel derived from waste oils and fats, bio-methanol made from biomass, and bio – LNG, all of which show lower carbon emissions than traditional fossil fuels.

4) How does Maersk’s sustainable shipping impact global trade?

Maersk’s sustainable shipping activities reduce the environmental footprint of global trade, promote cleaner supply chains, encourage the adaptation of greener practices throughout the industry, and thereby facilitate the transition toward a more sustainable global economy.