K+N to be CO2 Neutral for Shipments

Switzerland-based global transport and logistics company Kuehne + Nagel International AG has launched a Net Zero Carbon program that will aim to reduce the environmental impact of supply chains.

In addition to the continuous reduction of its own CO2 emissions, the company now offers its customers solutions for reducing the CO2 footprint of their supply chain. With the use of big data and new digital platforms, the selection of transport routes and modes can be optimized from a CO2 perspective.

Kuehne + Nagel has also decided to proactively address the CO2 footprint of the transportation services performed by its suppliers – airlines, shipping lines and haulage companies. Kuehne + Nagel targets comprehensive CO2 neutralization (Scope 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol – GHG) by 2030. As a first step, all less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments will be CO2 neutral from 2020 onwards.

Kuehne + Nagel’s Net Zero Carbon program leverages three fields of action: detection, reduction and compensation of CO2. The company has started its own nature projects in Myanmar and New Zealand and has invested in various nature-based CO2 compensation projects, where carbon is being taken from the atmosphere. The emission credits obtained are in accordance with the highest international standards.

Over the past years, Kuehne + Nagel has considerably reduced its own CO2 footprint and will continue to pursue its efforts. Ongoing training programmes maintain and expand the environmental awareness of employees. For example, video conferencing increasingly replaces business trips. Direct Kuehne + Nagel CO2 emissions (GHG Scope 1 and 2) that cannot be avoided will be fully compensated as of 2020.

Dr. Detlef Trefzger, Chief Executive Officer of Kuehne + Nagel International AG, comments: “As one of the leading logistics companies worldwide, we acknowledge the responsibility we have for the environment, for our ecosystem and essentially for the people. Today’s announcement is based on a package of measures to fight CO2 emissions and provide sustainable and innovative supply chain solutions – hand in hand with our suppliers and customers. We thus support the aim of the Paris agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.”