How Maersk & Danone Will Make Logistics Greener
Maersk, the global logistics powerhouse, has joined forces with the food and beverage giant Danone in a dedicated effort to reduce the environmental impact of maritime shipping.
This collaboration uses Maersk’s ECO Delivery Ocean programme, which taps into cleaner fuel sources like biodiesel and biomethanol, entirely produced from waste materials.
By opting for these sustainable fuels, Danone expects to cut its shipping-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 40%, a step that aligns with both companies’ broader decarbonisation ambitions.
The partnership forms part of Danone’s Partner for Growth programme, where the company pursues more sustainable logistics practices by exploring low-emission fuels and more efficient, multimodal transport options.
According to Jean-Yves Krummenacher, Danone’s Global Chief Procurement Officer: "The ECO Delivery Ocean product and its reduced greenhouse gas emissions align well with our decarbonisation strategy to focus primarily on alternative fuels and multimodal transportation.
“Maersk is an important partner and using their product to reduce CO₂ emissions on sea freight marks yet another step in our decarbonisation journey.”
Science-based targets leading decarbonisation efforts
Sustainability is not only a shared goal but a business model priority for both Maersk and Danone, with each working towards net-zero targets rooted in science-based frameworks.
Danone, for example, aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050—a target it set in 2017 and was officially approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Maersk, too, is paving its way toward net-zero, aiming to achieve it by 2040, making it the first shipping company to receive SBTi endorsement for its net-zero goals.
Maersk’s ECO Delivery Ocean initiative is pivotal in enabling companies like Danone to make significant progress in sustainable logistics.
The programme offers an evidence-based strategy, providing businesses with a concrete path to emission reduction aligned with global climate goals.
Emilio de la Cruz, Maersk’s Area Managing Director for South West Europe, emphasises the importance of collaboration in driving forward these climate ambitions: “The swift reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is at the core of both our companies.
"Well-known companies like Danone can act as a beacon in their industries by using effective levers to decarbonise their supply chains. We are proud to be Danone’s trusted partner in this important task.”
By working together, Maersk and Danone aim to set an example for the logistics industry, demonstrating how companies can take on the challenge of Scope 3 emissions, which encompass all indirect emissions across the supply chain. Tackling Scope 3 emissions remains challenging due to their complexity and the need for collaboration across industries and sectors.
Through the ECO Delivery programme, Maersk and Danone are showing how science-based targets and sustainable fuel choices can be combined to reduce these emissions on a large scale.
Extending sustainable efforts beyond ocean freight
Beyond sea freight, the partnership also encompasses inland logistics, with Maersk offering Danone optimised, lower-emission transport solutions on land.
Using specialised control towers to improve the efficiency of Danone’s goods transport across the supply chain, Maersk’s services aim to lower emissions at each point of transit.
This comprehensive approach forms part of Danone’s wider sustainability strategy, enhancing its commitment to reducing emissions at every stage of the transport process.
Creating a sustainable supply chain requires adaptability to meet logistical challenges while prioritising emission reductions across all transportation modes. Danone and Maersk’s collaboration underlines the importance of a robust, end-to-end approach to Scope 3 emissions reduction.
By integrating intermodal solutions and addressing emissions not only on the ocean but also across land routes, they are setting an example of how industries can collaborate on wide-reaching environmental goals.
Together, Maersk and Danone are leading the way towards a more sustainable logistics sector, with their collaboration acting as a model for other companies. The partnership highlights how intermodal, science-driven logistics solutions can be powerful tools for emission reductions across global supply chains.
As industries continue to face mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practices, the Maersk-Danone partnership is providing a real-world example of how logistics companies can lower emissions across complex, global operations.
Jean-Yves concludes: "Maersk is an important partner and using their product to reduce CO₂ emissions on sea freight marks yet another step in our decarbonisation journey."
The partnership indeed illustrates that by setting science-based targets, integrating alternative fuels and focusing on the complete supply chain, companies can make a tangible difference in global environmental impact.
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