Amazon, others commit to using zero-carbon fuels ocean services by 2040

October 20, 2021: Leading global corporations including Amazon, IKEA, Unilever and Michelin are the among first signatories to an ambition statement for purchasing ocean freight services powered only by zero-carbon fuels by 2040.

The deal, signed by Cargo Owners for Zero Emission Vessels (coZEV), has been facilitated by the Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program (EEP).

Soren Skou, CEO, A.P. Moller-Maersk, welcomed the commitments made by the nine corporations.

"The ambition statement sends an important demand signal to the maritime value chain and bunker fuel producers that freight customers want zero-carbon shipping and they expect the industry to rapidly accelerate its decarbonization efforts in the years ahead," the Aspen statement said. "It also signals increased interest by consumer goods companies and retailers to work collaboratively, deploy their capacities for innovation, and drive economies of scale to foster an economically viable marketplace for zero-carbon shipping."

With logistics and distribution accounting for 15 percent of our total greenhouse gas footprint, it is vital we work with partners across industries to accelerate the transition to cleaner transport options, Michelle Grose, vice president, global (logistics), Unilever said in her LinkedIn post.

coZEV is an attempt to enable maritime freight customers to come together to accelerate maritime shipping decarbonisation.

"Together, these companies are committing to aligning their ocean shipping with the 1.5°C goal, and are sending a critical demand signal for the adoption of zero-carbon fuels," Aspen said.

Some projects at Aspen include:

• Cargo owner-support for the first zero-carbon maritime shipping corridors
• New mechanisms to bring together collective freight demand and achieve economies of scale for zero-carbon shipping
• Harnessing cargo owner voice to support public policies that will accelerate and lower the cost of the decarbonisation transition

"The time to act is now!," according to Edgar Blanco, director, Amazon Sustainability.