Hapag-Lloyd and Kuehne+Nagel have launched their first joint low-emission ocean freight programme using sustainable marine biofuels on container shipments between Asia and Europe.
Under the agreement, Kuehne+Nagel will use Hapag-Lloyd’s “Ship Green” product for cargo moving on the East Asia–North Europe trade between April and December 2026.
The pilot programme will cover about 3,300 teu and is expected to reduce emissions by nearly 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent on a well-to-wake basis.
To achieve this, Hapag-Lloyd plans to use around 1,000 tonnes of RED III-compliant sustainable marine fuel produced from waste and residue-based feedstocks.
The agreement marks the first direct cooperation between the two companies on emission-reduced container shipping and reflects growing pressure from cargo owners to cut supply-chain emissions before large-scale availability of future fuels such as green methanol or ammonia.
The programme uses a “book-and-claim” system, which allows customers to purchase verified emissions reductions even if the biofuel is not physically burned onboard the exact vessel carrying their cargo.
Under this model, emissions savings generated through biofuel use in Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet are allocated to Kuehne+Nagel shipments through certified accounting procedures.
The approach is becoming increasingly common in container shipping because supplies of sustainable marine fuel remain limited and significantly more expensive than conventional bunkers.
For operators, biofuel blends are currently one of the few immediately available options for lowering emissions without requiring major engine modifications or new vessel designs.
Hapag-Lloyd has expanded its decarbonisation strategy over the past several years through LNG dual-fuel newbuildings, biofuel programmes, and future methanol-ready vessel projects. The German carrier currently operates a fleet of more than 300 containerships with total transport capacity exceeding 2.5 million teu.
Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s biggest freight forwarders, said the partnership will help customers reduce Scope 3 emissions linked to ocean transport through commercially available solutions rather than waiting for next-generation fuels to scale up.
Both companies have long-term net-zero targets. Hapag-Lloyd aims to reach net-zero fleet operations by 2045, while Kuehne+Nagel targets net-zero emissions across its supply chain by 2050.
The latest agreement adds to a growing number of biofuel partnerships in liner shipping as carriers and logistics providers look for practical short-term solutions to meet tightening environmental requirements and customer demand for lower-emission transport.
