German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd has unveiled plans to achieve a 20% reduction in its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for every twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) it moves per kilometre by 2020 compared with the 2016 level.

The reduction will eventually help the company to meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) newly adopted strategy to cut at least 50% CO2 emissions from the global shipping by 2050 from the 2008 levels.

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Between 2007 and 2016, Hapag-Lloyd was able to lower the level of CO2 emissions from its fleet by 46%.

Hapag-Lloyd Sustainability Management senior director Jörg Erdmann said: “We have deliberately set a very ambitious goal for ourselves in terms of CO2 emissions because we view sustainability as self-evident, active involvement rather than lip service.

“Time and again, our involvement far exceeds the measures required by law. For example, we are one of the few global shipping companies that recycle its container ships in an environmentally friendly manner in specifically certified shipyards, even if this entails additional costs.”

“We have deliberately set a very ambitious goal for ourselves in terms of CO2 emissions because we view sustainability as self-evident, active involvement rather than lip service.”

Hapag-Lloyd is among the parties endorsing the new IMO strategy, which establishes the future vision for international shipping, the levels of ambition to reduce GHG emissions, and guiding principles.

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Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said: “We think the strategy put forward by the IMO to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions from shipping is excellent.

“What matters now is for all market players to pull together in the same direction. Hapag-Lloyd will do everything within its power to contribute to achieving this goal.”

The IMO strategy seeks to strengthen the energy efficiency design requirements for each ship type and reduce up to 40% emission by 2030.

Among other aspects, it will pursue efforts to reduce 70% emission by 2050, compared with 2008 and subsequently move towards a complete phase-out.