CMA CGM – Panalpina: Shared commitment to the environment

Panalpina, the world’s fourth biggest ocean freight forwarder by transport volumes, and CMA CGM, one of the world’s leading shipping groups, have signed a sustainability agreement aimed at reducing their respective carbon emissions by 2025. As of 2020, newbuild LNG-powered mega-vessels with a capacity of 22,000 TEU will help achieve the environmental goals.

“Thanks to a cooperation with a strategic partner such as CMA CGM that are technology driven, offer freight services to our customers and share a similar vision of sustainability, we can achieve our ambitious sustainability goals more efficiently,” says Lindsay Zingg, Panalpina’s global head of quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE).

Panalpina is one of only 140 companies globally with approved Science Based Targets where the company – amongst other targets – commits to reduce CO2 emissions from subcontracted transportation by 22 percent by 2025 (baseline 2013). Already today, the logistics service provider uses the most efficient and environmentally friendly freight services at sea.

CMA CGM, one of the world’s largest box ship carriers, aims to reduce carbon emissions per standard container (TEU) transported by 30 percent by 2025 (baseline 2015). “We are determined to reach that goal by investing in highly fuel-efficient vessels, making constant technical improvements, and retrofitting our fleet,” says Julien Topenot, head of environment and sustainability at CMA CGM.

Marseilles-based CMA CGM was the first shipping company to order container ships propelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) for their fleet. Nine LNG-powered mega-vessels or ULCVs (Ultra Large Container Vessels) with a capacity of 22,000 TEU each are scheduled for delivery in 2020. “Compared to current fuel-powered vessels, our new LNG vessels will enable a reduction of up to 25 percent in CO2. They will also generate 99% less sulphur emissions, 99% less fine particles and 85% less nitrogen oxides emissions,” explains Julien Topenot.

In 2017, Panalpina transported 1.5 million TEUs, making it the fourth biggest ocean freight forwarder in the world.

CMA CGM with a fleet of approximately 500 vessels offering 200 services that cover all of the world’s seas, transported 19 million TEU in the same year.

www.cma-cgm.com; www.panalpina.com