Maersk: Fashion the Driver Behind Sustainable Shipping
In an unexpected turn, Fashion labels are a main key driver of demand for green shipping fuels, according to Josue Alzamora, Global Head of Lifestyle Vertical at Maersk.
The news comes amid major challenges in the shipping sector surrounding sustainability to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Collectively, the shipping and fashion industries are significant polluters, so working together stands to reason in a globalized world.
According to data from Maersk, the fashion industry accounted for 26% of the containers that Maersk shipped in 2022 using biofuels under its ECO Delivery contracts, rendering it the biggest sector using the low-emission fuel service.
Josue Alzamora, Global Head of Lifestyle Vertical at Maersk told Reuters: "Many of the fashion brands have actually been the ones going for this [green shipping]. Of course, fashion companies also feel the pressure from consumers [too]."
Green Vessels
Maersk Line has tried to stay a pioneer in green shipping after making an order of six mid-sized container vessels – all having dual-fuel engines able to operate on green methanol – in a bid to 'greenify' its fleet.
It has also been announced that Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group will build the six 9,000 TEU vessels which will be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
In 2021, Maersk ordered the world’s first methanol-enabled container vessel following a commitment to the principle of only ordering newbuilt vessels that can sail on green fuels.
Just two years later, the global order-book stands at more than 100 methanol-enabled vessels.
By ordering additional six vessels, Maersk now has 25 methanol-enabled vessels on order, as well as retrofitting an existing ship to a dual-fuel methanol-powered vessel recently.
