After DHL, DB Schenker and Forto, Hapag-Lloyd has now also signed Kuehne+Nagel for its low-emission shipping product “Ship Green”.
As part of the agreement, Kuehne+Nagel will reduce the carbon footprint of its sea freight operations with the help of Hapag-Lloyd’s “Ship Green” product, according to an announcement released today. The agreement marks “an important milestone” in the cooperation between the two companies.
For the period from April to December 2026, the CO₂ footprint of around 3,300 TEU on the East Asia–North Europe route is to be reduced. By using certified biofuels made from waste and residual materials, around 2,979 tonnes of CO₂e emissions are to be avoided on a well-to-wake (WTW) basis.
For Hapag-Lloyd, the world’s fifth-largest container liner shipping company, this is not the first partnership of this kind with a logistics provider. Similar agreements have already been concluded with DHL, DB Schenker and Forto in recent years.
“We are delighted to further expand our long-standing partnership with Kuehne+Nagel,” said Danny Smolders, Managing Director Global Sales at Hapag-Lloyd. “With Ship Green, we offer a scalable solution that already enables our customers to actively reduce their Scope 3 emissions. The agreement shows how strong partnerships can deliver concrete progress in the decarbonisation of global supply chains.”
Both companies have set climate targets. Hapag-Lloyd is aiming for net-zero fleet operations by 2045, while Kuehne+Nagel has committed to achieving net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2050.
The agreement is based on a book-and-claim mechanism for traceability, allowing customers to claim verified emission reductions regardless of the physical fuel allocation to specific vessels or routes. Only emission reductions from biofuels already used in Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet are attributed to Kuehne+Nagel. This model enables scalable climate measures as long as sustainable marine fuels remain available only to a limited extent.
Paolo Montrone, Head of Trade Global Sea Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, added: “The decarbonisation of shipping requires transparency, collaboration and economically viable solutions. Through strong partnerships, transparent emissions data and the ability to reduce Scope 3 emissions, we are supporting our customers with a credible, market-based approach to accelerate the use of alternative fuels. We look forward to expanding our collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd to drive this forward together.”
