Setting the bar to net zero emissions for our customers and planet

To make sure our customers’ sustainability objectives are met when transporting their products across the globe, A.P. Moller – Maersk announces today a more ambitious climate neutral target.

The goal is to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions, across the entire business, by 2040 – one decade ahead of the initial 2050 ambition.

We take this responsibility to pursue climate neutrality very seriously for our customers, our people, the society at large and the environment. Tackling this challenge will require extensive data insights and close collaboration with local and regional suppliers of products and services across the Maersk business footprint.

The targets aim to align Maersk with a 1.5°C pathway and the net zero criteria of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and cover all emission scopes. This will be achieved through a decade of actions, backed up by a series of similarly ambitious 2030 targets, both for direct emissions and our green offerings across a broad range of our product portfolio. These are:

On ocean

25% of all cargo will be transported using green fuels. Our 2021 volume growth tripled for Maersk ECO Delivery product, showing continued high customer demand for our green ocean solutions. We continue to see opportunities to further develop this, creating a runway for more growth towards the introduction of our newly designed green methanol fueled vessels in 2023-2025.

On air

A minimum of 30% of cargo will be transported using Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). Our air emissions currently make up less than 1% of our total emissions but are set to increase with the growth projected to serve our customers. Our sustainable and efficient air freight offering is based on a strong collaboration with our carrier partners (ex. United’s Eco-Skies Alliance) and synergies from our fuel development activities including potential engagement in SAF development and production.

On land

Detailed targets will be introduced during this year of 2022. Our landside footprint is mainly indirect emissions from truck, rail and barge suppliers – local businesses where energy infrastructure and regulation decide the reduction potential. We will set a target for 2030 after thorough assessment of our current supplier and operating network. These initiatives will include:

• Efficiency measures and promotion of modal shift from conventional truck to lower emission transport modes.
• Development of green alternatives and electrified transport based on renewable energy, where we are already on the move with train services.
• Investing in innovations and strong partnerships in this field.

Contract Logistics and Cold Chain

Here there we commit to a minimum of 90% green operations. Our global portfolio of dry and reefer warehouses and depots will serve our customers with green contract logistics operations (scope 1 and 2) by 2030. This will be achieved through:

• Retrofitting of existing footprint and new projects receiving state-of-the-art accreditation.
• Electrification of assets.
• Lower climate-impact refrigerants like CO2 or ammonia in reefers.

We are proud of all the steps we, as a company, are going to take, but to achieve these ambitious goals we can’t walk alone. We need customers and the rest of the players in our industry to commit to comparable targets so that the effort is strong and fueled by collaboration.

Moreover, global regulation must be introduced to steer the right behavior and create a true level playing field. The IMO so far moved at a slower pace than we hoped, but it is the right body to steer us forward. Before the end of 2023 the IMO should secure significant progress towards the adoption of a global target for shipping for net zero in 2050 or earlier. 

We will work hard to create a sustainable future for supply chains and logistics, in a way that is visible to all our customers and are looking forward to collaborate with you to make this a reality. Let’s do this together!

Discover more on sustainability at Maersk