CMA CGM and DSV target 12,000 tonnes of CO2 cuts through low-carbon shipping deal

CMA CGM and DSV have signed an agreement targeting a reduction of 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over two years through the use of lower-carbon marine fuels, extending their cooperation as shipping companies and freight forwarders face growing pressure to reduce emissions across global supply chains.

Under the agreement, DSV will use CMA CGM’s ACT+ shipping solution, which incorporates second-generation biofuels produced from used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME). The French container shipping group says the solution can deliver CO2 emissions reductions of up to 83% compared with conventional marine fuels.

The agreement strengthens an existing commercial relationship between the two companies and provides DSV with additional options for reducing emissions associated with ocean freight services.

The planned reduction of 12,000 tonnes of CO2 over two years will be achieved through the use of second-generation UCOME-based biofuels.

These fuels are produced from waste cooking oils rather than crops grown specifically for fuel production. They can provide a lower-carbon alternative to conventional marine fuels, although the actual emissions savings depend on feedstock sourcing, production processes and the methodology used to calculate lifecycle emissions.

CMA CGM’s ACT+ programme offers customers access to lower-carbon transport options using alternative fuels, including UCOME-based biofuels and BioLNG.

The company states that ACT+ can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 83% compared with conventional shipping fuel. This represents the programme’s stated maximum reduction potential rather than a confirmed emissions reduction for every shipment.

The companies have not disclosed the cargo volumes covered by the agreement, the trade routes involved or the financial terms of the arrangement.

They have also not specified how the targeted 12,000-tonne reduction will be distributed across individual shipments or how the achieved reductions will be independently verified.

For DSV, the agreement forms part of its strategy to reach net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain by 2050.

As a global freight forwarder, DSV relies on shipping companies to transport much of its customers’ ocean cargo. Cooperation with carriers is therefore an important element in reducing emissions associated with purchased transport services.

Michael Hollstein, Senior Vice President Global Ocean Product at DSV, said cooperation between logistics providers and shipping companies was necessary to make lower-carbon transport more widely available.

“At DSV, reducing emissions across global supply chains requires strong collaboration and scalable solutions. Through our partnership with CMA CGM and the use of the ACT+ solution, we are expanding access to lower-carbon shipping options for our customers,” Hollstein said.

The agreement gives DSV access to a shipping solution designed to reduce transport-related emissions without requiring customers to arrange their own alternative fuel supply.

For freight forwarders managing cargo across multiple carriers and trade lanes, such arrangements provide another way to address emissions associated with ocean freight procurement.

The announcement does not specify whether DSV will allocate the reductions to particular customers or distribute them across a broader portfolio of shipments.

The agreement comes as CMA CGM continues expanding its fleet of vessels capable of operating on alternative fuels.

The French shipping group made a major commitment to liquefied natural gas propulsion in 2017 under Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rodolphe Saadé.

That decision led to the delivery of the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé in 2020, the world’s first 23,000 TEU LNG-powered container vessel.

CMA CGM also introduced its ACT environmental transport offering in 2020, providing customers with options to measure and reduce emissions associated with their shipments.

In 2026, the company introduced the CMA CGM Notre Dame, a 24,212 TEU LNG-powered container vessel and the first in a series of ten new-generation ships. The vessel is the largest container ship operating under the French flag.

By 2031, CMA CGM expects to operate approximately 200 dual-fuel vessels powered by LNG or methanol and capable of using lower-carbon energy sources.

The fleet investment forms part of the carrier’s stated objective of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through improved energy efficiency, alternative fuels and cooperation with customers and suppliers.

The agreement illustrates how freight forwarders and ocean carriers are using commercial contracts to support emissions reduction targets while conventional marine fuels remain widely used across the industry.

Alternative fuel solutions can help customers address emissions associated with maritime transport, but their effectiveness depends on fuel availability, lifecycle emissions performance and the accounting methods applied.

For shipping customers, the distinction between a targeted emissions reduction and an achieved, verified reduction remains important when assessing environmental performance.

Amandine Paulet, Vice President and Deputy Chief Commercial Officer at CMA CGM, said the partnership reflected the role of cooperation in developing lower-carbon logistics services.

“Our partnership demonstrates how strong collaboration drives more resilient and sustainable logistics, while delivering high-performance solutions for our customers,” Paulet said.

ACT+ also includes emissions measurement tools and options to offset remaining emissions.

Source: Break Bulk News

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