Suva, Fiji – Swire Shipping, a leading provider of sustainable ocean and landside logistics solutions, has officially launched its landmark carbon insetting initiative, “Voyage to Zero,” in Suva, Fiji. The programme enables freight customers to reduce their Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the purchase and claim of verified GHG savings from Swire Shipping’s use of second-generation biofuels.
The official launch ceremony took place aboard the MV Apia Chief, one of three Swire Shipping vessels currently operating on sustainable biofuels in the Pacific region. The event was attended by key dignitaries, including the Honourable Mosese Bulitavu, Fiji’s Minister of the Environment & Climate Change, who formally inaugurated the programme.
Jeremy Sutton, CEO of Swire Shipping, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting the South Pacific’s fight against climate change:
“Though the Pacific Island nations contribute the least to global emissions, they face some of the gravest consequences. By introducing greener fuels in the South Pacific, we stand united with our Pacific Island partners—sharing in their vision and determination for a resilient, thriving, and sustainable future.”
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About ‘Voyage to Zero’
Voyage to Zero is a carbon insetting programme specifically designed to help freight customers reduce their Scope 3 emissions — the indirect emissions that occur across a company’s value chain. It utilizes second-generation biofuels, made from waste streams, to generate GHG emission reductions.
Unlike traditional carbon offsetting, insetting refers to carbon savings created within the same value chain. In this case, Swire Shipping creates emission reductions directly within the shipping process and enables customers to claim those savings.
How ‘Voyage to Zero Works’
- Swire Shipping Uses Biofuels: Swire Shipping integrates sustainable biofuels into the operations of its vessels, thereby generating verifiable emission savings.
- GHG Savings Registration: These emission savings are then registered on Katalist, a non-profit book & claim platform. Katalist, developed by the Fonden Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), serves as an industry-wide registry ensuring independent verification and preventing double counting.
- Customer Purchase: Any freight customer, regardless of whether their cargo is carried by Swire Shipping, can purchase these verified emission savings to reduce their reported Scope 3 shipping emissions.
- Certificate Issuance: Upon purchase, customers receive a certificate containing independently verified data of their GHG savings, which they can then claim in their sustainability reporting.
Sustainable Biofuels and Verified Impact
Swire Shipping exclusively uses biofuels certified by internationally recognized sustainability standards, including the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB).
These B100 biofuels offer a minimum 84% GHG reduction on a lifecycle basis when compared to fossil fuels, as measured by the European Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) baseline of 94g CO₂e/MJ.
All voyage and fuel consumption data used to calculate GHG savings is independently verified by third-party auditors, in accordance with ISO 17029 and ISO 14065 standards.
CEO’s Vision
Jeremy Sutton reiterated Swire Shipping’s dedication to supporting the maritime industry’s journey towards net-zero. “The launch of Voyage to Zero, and transition to biofuels, are important steps in our decarbonization strategy and will allow us to provide greater support to customers looking to reduce their emissions,“
About Swire Shipping
With over 150 years of experience, Swire Shipping is a trusted name in maritime logistics, known for connecting the South Pacific with Asia and beyond. The company provides high-frequency liner shipping services, specialist project logistics under Swire Projects, and integrated landside solutions.
Headquartered in Singapore, Swire Shipping operates a fleet of 36 vessels, makes over 2,300 annual port calls, and connects more than 400 ports worldwide. It serves over 3,400 customers and moves around 3.95 million tonnes of cargo annually.
Through a network of 13 liner services and strategic partnerships, Swire Shipping continues to invest in innovation and sustainability to provide agile, customer-centric logistics solutions that enrich communities and protect the planet.
Source Swire Shipping