Commitment of major retailers to reducing carbon emissions.

The Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) has launched an invitation to the main shipping lines to offer maritime transport powered by fuels that generate zero emissions. The proposal covers the equivalent of 600,000 TEUs spanning from 2025 to 2028.

ZEMBA, whose members include some of the world’s largest retailers such as Amazon, IKEA and Nike, described the tender as the first major buyer-led initiative to accelerate the transition to zero-emission marine fuels.

This would represent a reduction of nearly 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions from the supply chain.

ZEMBA says it will work to negotiate a “green premium” with bidders to take into account the additional cost of operating a vessel that uses zero-emission fuels.

The proposal seeks to deliver a shipping service that can achieve at least a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with respect to fossil fuels. Shipping companies will have until 2025 to meet the criteria.

ZEMBA member companies have committed to the ambition of exclusively using zero-emission shipping for shipping by 2040.