SEVENTEEN businesses are providing marine biofuel for a container shipping company to create more sustainable supply chains for their freight.
The companies are involved in a campaign that aims to inset (rather than offset) carbon emissions by switching out the fuel used in the maritime transportation of their goods, instead of compensating elsewhere.
The Switch to Zero campaign is an initiative of the Port of Rotterdam and “carbon insetting” company GoodShipping. Participants are providing biofuel to Dutch shipping company Samskip.
GoodShipping aims to ensure several Samskip vessels will be provided with biofuels to ultimately save the target 2023 tonnes of carbon emissions.
GoodShipping noted this figure is comparable to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions released when transporting some 15,000 TEU containers between Rotterdam and Gothenburg.
“Shipping is not yet on schedule to be CO2 neutral by 2050, even though it is technically feasible,” Port of Rotterdam CEO Allard Castelein said.
“It is therefore good that shipping, as well as industry, in Europe will soon pay for CO2 emissions through the ETS.
“This encourages sustainability, as it makes environment- and climate-friendly alternatives more attractive financially. However, this is only possible if such alternative options are offered.”
GoodShipping founder Dirk Kronemeijer said shippers have helped accelerate the pace of the energy transition over the past two years.
He said the company wants to give shippers more opportunities to have their freight shipped sustainably.
“The offer made by the Port of Rotterdam Authority, which aims to be the world’s most sustainable port, to support us in this was therefore easy to accept.
“With the Switch to Zero campaign, we’re making it easy for companies to enhance the sustainability of their transport without complex supply chain adaptations.”
The companies participating in the campaign are Dille & Kamille, Swinkels Family Brewers, Yogi Tea, Beiersdorf, Bugaboo, Otto Group, K2 Forwarding, Yumeko, NINE & Co., De Kleine Keuken, Royal van Whije Verf, Intersteel, OMyBag, Regent Ingredients, Dopper, Johnny Cashew and Anchor International.
