There’s no getting around it.
The shipping industry is one of the main sources of greenhouse gases around the world. Around 940 million tonnes of CO2 are produced by the industry every single year.
Not only that, but its level of emissions is predicted to keep on rising.
Waiting around for green fuels to become commercially available is simply not enough to bring the numbers down and protect our planet. It’s high time that shipping companies made changes today to reduce their emissions and shrink the carbon footprint of their cargo.
Some of the big players, such as Maersk, have put themselves in the spotlight of environmental news. Through new technology, new vessels and new fuels, Maersk states they’re aiming for the achievement of climate-neutral shipping by 2040.
But what about the smaller companies? What can YOU do to lessen the blow?
1 – Choose Your Transport Carefully
Inevitably, different modes of shipping cargo emit varying levels of carbon into the atmosphere. By doing some homework and basing your decision on environmentally friendlier options, you can drastically reduce the carbon footprint of your cargo.
Did you know that to carry the same consignment over the same distance, road freight emits over 100 times as much carbon dioxide as a container ship?
And yet, the emissions generated from 15 huge container ships tallies up to the total emissions generated from all of the cars in the whole world. And, with most of the world’s cargo moved by ship (around 85%), that’s a mountain of a carbon footprint to offset.
But what does it all mean? Numbers and percentages flying around can often be confusing and downright unhelpful…
Well, it might surprise you to know that air freight is the worst greenhouse gas-emitting offender. Swiftly followed by HGVs moving goods around via road. Rail and inland waterways are shown to be the greener options, with container shipping coming in lowest of all.
Interesting!
2 – Offset Your Carbon Emissions
Carbon offsetting is the process of compensating for your CO2 emissions.
By getting involved in planet-friendly initiatives designed specifically to reduce the same amount of carbon in the atmosphere, such as reforestation programmes, shipping companies can actively give back and support the planet whilst continuing to operate.
To do this, companies can buy and retire carbon credits, or offsets, which are each measured as one tonne of CO2e (this stands for ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’). These offsets can be purchased from schemes around the globe and work to compensate for the unavoidable carbon-producing activities of the company.
3 – Use Our Carbon Calculator
Do you know how much CO2 your shipments are producing? How can you offset your carbon emissions if you don’t?
Don’t worry, we’ve made it easy for you…
Introducing Millennium’s new and improved carbon calculator. Designed with simplicity in mind and able to host multiple shipping movements, the calculator works to provide an accurate forecast of just how much CO2 your shipping business is generating.
Understanding the impact your shipping company has on the health of the atmosphere and taking steps to re-balancing the emissions your cargo generates is responsible, forward-thinking and something to shout about.
Keep going!
Ship Green With Millennium
Millennium’s Green Services support businesses that are ready to take on responsibility and do something to counteract the unavoidable emissions coming from our sector.
While the rest of the world has begun to up its game, the shipping industry has dragged its heels for too long. It’s up to shipping business owners to start making conscious, day-to-day adaptations to fuel the wider change that needs to happen.
Not sure how to work the CO2 calculator? Uncertain about how you’ll manage to offset enough carbon to help you sleep at night? Little steps are better than none. Call Millennium today and speak to one of our friendly team for expert advice and a little weight off your shoulders.