Kuehne + Nagel begins printing sea freight emission levels on each invoice

Swiss freight forwarding and logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel said today that it has begun printing on each invoice the level of carbon emissions generated by seagoing shipments, a move designed to help customers more effectively manage the environmental impact of their shipping operations.

The company said it is using data from its in-house carbon calculator to determine emissions generated by door-to-door shipments moving in full containerload (FCL) and less-than-containerload (LCL) services. Data on port-to-port moves is calculated by the Clean Cargo Working Group, whose shipping line members handle 87 percent of global container moves.

Kuehne + Nagel said it is the first logistics provider to disclose sea freight emissions data on its invoices.

"Our goal is to raise visibility and awareness of the environmental impact within the sea freight supply chain," said Otto Schacht, a member of Kuehne + Nagel's management board, in a statement. "This will improve decision-making with respect to carbon emissions."

In 2012, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimated that carbon emissions from ocean shipping equaled 2.2 percent of global man-made emissions. IMO forecast at the time that emissions levels would rise by 2 to 3 times that by 2050 if no action were taken. Global maritime interests such as the Maritime Shipping Council said the mode emits less carbon dioxide per one ton of cargo carried one kilometer than rail, motor carrier, or aviation.