Hapag-Lloyd and Kuehne+Nagel take their first joint step towards sustainable ocean shipping
- May 15
- 2 min read
German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd and global logistics provider Kuehne+Nagel have launched their first joint initiative focused on reducing emissions from ocean freight through the use of Sustainable Marine Fuels (SMF). The agreement marks a new phase in the long-standing partnership between the two companies and highlights the growing shift within the shipping industry toward commercially scalable decarbonization solutions.
As part of the collaboration, Kuehne+Nagel will utilize Hapag-Lloyd’s “Ship Green” solution to lower the carbon footprint of selected ocean freight shipments moving between East Asia and Northern Europe. Between April and December 2026, approximately 3,300 TEU of cargo will be covered under the agreement, with the initiative expected to reduce around 2,979 tonnes of CO₂e emissions on a well-to-wake basis through the use of certified waste- and residue-based biofuels compliant with RED III sustainability standards. Around 1,000 tonnes of sustainable marine fuel are expected to be utilized during the pilot phase.
The agreement is based on a book-and-claim chain-of-custody model, which allows verified emission reductions to be allocated independently from the physical deployment of fuel on specific vessels or trade routes. Under this mechanism, only emissions reductions generated from biofuel consumed within Hapag-Lloyd’s operated fleet are assigned to Kuehne+Nagel shipments. The model is increasingly gaining traction across the maritime sector as carriers and logistics providers search for scalable pathways toward lower-emission shipping without requiring dedicated fuel allocation for individual cargo movements.
The collaboration also reflects the broader transformation currently underway across the container shipping and logistics industries, where reducing Scope 3 emissions has become a major priority for cargo owners, freight forwarders, and global supply chain operators. Through solutions such as Ship Green, carriers are attempting to create market-based mechanisms that accelerate the adoption of alternative marine fuels while providing customers with transparent emissions accounting and verified sustainability reporting.
Both companies have established ambitious long-term climate targets. Hapag-Lloyd aims to achieve net-zero fleet operations by 2045, while Kuehne+Nagel has committed to reaching net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2050. The partnership demonstrates how collaboration between ocean carriers and logistics providers is becoming increasingly important as the maritime industry seeks to balance operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and decarbonization requirements within global trade networks.
Image source: hapag-lloyd.com
