OOCL, Ikea & Kyocera introduce biofuel in shipping

Hong-Kong shipping and logistics conglomerate Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL) and its partners have collaborated to advance low-carbon shipping, opting for cleaner fuel to reduce supply chain emissions. With the participation of several partners including the majors like IKEA and Kyocera, the first voyage commenced in August.

OOCL has informed that the fuel used on the voyage is a B24 biofuel blend, with ISCC certified Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester as a component in the VLSFO. Replacing fossil fuel with biofuel can reduce carbon emissions in shipping and is considered a viable transitional solution towards long-term decarbonization goals.

The amount of carbon saved on this voyage will be attributed to these partners, reducing the carbon footprint of the cargo.

A Green Certificate will be issued to each of these partners as a credible certification of the saved carbon emissions by opting for biofuel. The process is verified and powered by Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN). OOCL held that carbon emission saving calculation and allocation are tracked by blockchain, with traceable and immutable record.

OOCL claims to be using Well-to-Wake approach to comprehensively measure the lifecycle carbon emissions, from the production of the fuel to its consumption in ship operation.

OOCL has started using biofuel on some of its vessels since 2023 as one of the company’s strategies to advance with the transition towards decarbonization. Promoting the use of biofuel in low-carbon shipping with partners has not only further demonstrated the company’s commitment to decarbonizing the ocean shipping industry but also its determination to provide first-class shipping services to partners.

Michael Xu, Director of Trades at OOCL, said: “Working with partners on low-carbon shipping is definitely a very important milestone in OOCL’s environmental and sustainability journey that enables both OOCL and our partners to advance towards their own decarbonization roadmap.”

He added, “We are keen to establish additional long-lasting sustainability collaborations with all our partners and stakeholders to reduce emissions along the supply chain and to create a greener future together.”