Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, or NYK Line, and Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd. unveiled on Thursday a digital platform designed to track and manage greenhouse gas emission reductions across global supply chains.
According to a press statement, the initiative was developed in collaboration with 123Carbon B.V., a Netherlands-based decarbonization tech startup, to reduce their Scope 3 GHG emissions — indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain.
The platform offers a transparent, blockchain-secured system for customers to monitor and verify GHG reductions using alternative fuels across ocean, air and land transportation.
The statement added that customers will also receive certificates confirming the emission reductions, validated by a third-party certification organization.
“This platform provides a robust mechanism for companies to understand and claim their role in reducing carbon emissions,” said Jeroen van Heiningen, managing director of 123Carbon, in a statement.
“By giving customers visibility into the methods and fuels behind these reductions, NYK and Yusen Logistics are setting a new standard for decarbonization in the logistics industry.”
How It Works
The process is streamlined but comprehensive. NYK generates GHG-emission reductions through biofuels in its bulk shipping business, quantifies the environmental impact and issues certificates to YL after third-party verification.
Yusen Logistics, in turn, procures reductions from ocean shipping firms like NYK and airline partners while also producing reductions through sustainable fuels for its truck fleet in select countries.
By integrating these emissions data points into a single digital platform, customers can easily track the origins and impact of their GHG reductions.
Blockchain technology provides real-time visibility and transparency into the supply chain.
One-Stop Service for Carbon Accountability
The new platform, set to be fully operational in the coming months, will enable companies to view and manage all their GHG-emission reduction activities in one place. This “one-stop” approach responds to growing demand from corporations under pressure to reduce emissions in their supply chains as part of broader sustainability commitments.
The platform’s launch is part of a larger decarbonization strategy for NYK and Yusen Logistics. NYK, which supplies biofuels to car carriers, bulk carriers, and oil tankers, has set a goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Yusen Logistics is similarly committed to cutting its GHG emissions. The company aims to reduce its emissions by 45 percent by 2030, focusing on its Scope 1 and 2 emissions while collaborating with partners to address Scope 3.
Global Context and Industry Impact
The global logistics sector faces increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint as regulators and investors push for greater climate accountability.
Scope 3 emissions — which occur from sources not directly owned or controlled by the reporting company — are among the most challenging to manage, as they involve upstream and downstream supply chain activities. The collaborative nature of the NYK-YL platform represents a significant step forward in addressing these challenges.
The commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions reflects a growing recognition that business operations must align with sustainability principles for the health of the planet and future generations.
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