Green Logistics Innovation for Emerging Markets Driving Competitiveness and Shared Value 2025

CASE STUDY 5 Maersk drives green transition through energy shifts and efficiency improvements Overview: Maersk’s energy transition strategy is anchored in two core decarbonization drivers: efficiency improvements and the green energy replacement. Its efficiency measures include schedule, network and asset performance optimization, while the company’s energy replacement initiatives emphasize the urgency of transitioning from fossil fuels to low-emission alternatives, including alternative marine fuels and electrification solutions. Innovation levers applied: –Methanol-capable vessels (lever 5): Maersk plans to deploy 18 large dual-fuel methanol vessels by 2025. To secure enough bio- and e-methanol supply for its owned dual-fuel methanol vessels, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and purchase agreements with leading suppliers, for example LONGi and Goldwind. –Green warehouses and terminals (lever 9): It is replacing its diesel-powered equipment with electric alternatives and powering warehouses and terminals with renewable energy. Its investments in infrastructure such as EV charging stations and automatic operation systems support electrification and sustainability. To decarbonize terminal operations, the company collaborates with Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) to accelerate the electrification of container handling equipment. –Intelligent route and schedule optimization (lever 10): Maersk’s AI-driven platform StarConnect analyses 2.5 billion data points from over 700 vessels yearly to optimize fuel consumption and safety, while also taking into account environmental impacts. In a collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd, the company has launched the Gemini network in order to improve reliability, speed and fuel efficiency by using streamlined, single-operator mainliner loops that reduce stops between origin and final destination by nearly half. –Modal shift and multimodal (lever 15): Its inland transport from ocean terminals is being seamlessly integrated with end-to-end inland transport of both containerized and non-containerized cargo via an extensive truck, rail and barge network. Impacts achieved: –Fuel shift and emission reduction: Bio- and e-methanol reduce GHG emissions by at least 65% compared to conventional fossil fuels. Maersk’s combined methanol offtake agreements now meet more than 50% of the dual-fuel methanol fleet demand in 2027. Delivery projects are already under way. For example, Goldwind will begin supplying 500,000 tonnes of green methanol annually from 2026. –Energy efficiency improvement: The Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI) of Maersk’s vessels has improved to 11.1 gCO2e/t-nm (grams of CO2e per tonne-nautical mile) in 2024 (down from 11.7 in 2023). Source: Maersk interview and documents review. 2.3 Lessons learned for scaling impact An analysis of the pioneering efforts mentioned previously across emerging markets reveals how industries are harnessing technology and new business models to accelerate the green logistics transformation. While these cases illustrate practical pathways for innovation, their broader adoption and scaling are contingent on overcoming critical systemic barriers. First, despite global efforts such as those taken by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), important steps have been taken towards a unified global framework for shipping decarbonization. Policy and regulatory fragmentation add further uncertainty to an already unpredictable investment landscape in emerging markets. The absence of clear, stable and harmonized regulatory frameworks – especially for cross-border logistics – deters long-term capital commitment. Inconsistent and/or unreliable incentive structures further undermine investor confidence, impeding the scalable deployment of proven green technologies and stifling innovation. Moreover, the absence of unified standards hinders the widespread adoption of such innovation. The absence of clear, stable and harmonized regulatory frameworks – especially for cross-border logistics – deters long-term capital commitment. Green Logistics Innovation for Emerging Markets: Driving Competitiveness and Shared Value 18