Epson teams up with Maersk to cut emissions from inbound ocean transportation

Global technology firm Epson has partnered with Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk to use greenhouse gas (GHG) emission-reduced fuels like biodiesel and green methanol for its inbound ocean transportation to Europe.

As part of its EPSON 25 Renewed initiative, Epson is charting a decarbonization pathway, with carbon-free logistics a key focus in achieving its aims. 

The collaboration represents the start of a three-year program to increase the volume of containers transported using GHG emission-reduced fuels and marks a significant step towards Epson’s pledge to become carbon-negative and underground resource-free by 2050.

Specifically, Epson will use Maersk’s ECO Delivery Ocean program, a product that aids in reducing GHG emissions when compared to conventional fossil energy sources. By using this program, Epson will be able to allocate energy from lower GHG emissions fuels to cover the consumed energy of fossil fuels in cargo transportation, thereby “lowering the value chain GHG footprint”. The emissions from seaborne shipments could be cut by up to 82% compared to traditional fossil fuel-powered container transport, according to Maersk.

“Partnerships are essential in creating impactful solutions for decarbonisation, and our customers are at the core of these partnerships. Our collaboration with Epson is a testament to our shared values and commitment to reducing the GHG emissions from logistics as fast as we can. Together, we are not only reducing emissions but setting a benchmark for other cargo owners and the shipping and logistics industry,” Kaisa Helena Tikk, Head of Commercial Sustainability at A.P. Moller – Maersk, said.

“Epson is committed to driving transformative change in the way we conduct our business. By partnering with Maersk to use emission reduced fuel for our inbound ocean transportation, we are taking a significant step towards achieving our sustainability goals. This initiative not only reduces our carbon footprint but also sets a positive example for the electronics industry,” Mark Robertson, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Epson Europe, explained.

“This partnership with Maersk aims to set a precedent in the electronics sector, where the adoption of biodiesel or green methanol remains relatively rare. In tandem with utilising these GHG emission reduced fuels, Epson is optimising its container space, fitting over 15% more freight per container through improved logistics and product design,” the firm also added.

To enhance transparency and measure the carbon footprint accurately, Epson has also integrated Shippeo software into its logistics operations, allowing the company to track the carbon impact across all transportation methods, from factory to final delivery.

The ocean freight industry is undergoing a transformation, driven by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, i.e. close to 2050.

Maersk was the first in its industry to have its 2030 and 2040 targets validated by the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative in alignment with a 1.5°C and net-zero pathway.

The company recently partnered with Danone, a French multinational food-products corporation, to reduce logistics greenhouse gas emissions using Maersk’s decarbonization service.