NYK is the first Japanese shipping company to complete a carbon-neutral voyage by offsetting the emitted 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) with the purchase of carbon credits. The shipping giant will now offer its carbon offsets to customers as an option to create sustainable supply chains.

The Aries Leader is a modern car carrier equipped with the latest energy-saving technologies, reducing CO2 emissions per freight unit by 30% compared with existing large pure car carriers. On a voyage from Japan to the Middle East, NYK “eliminated” the remaining CO2 emissions by purchasing carbon credits, theoretically reducing CO2 emissions to zero.

“This initiative demonstrates the ability of NYK to provide carbon-neutral transportation to its Japanese and overseas customers, thus meeting the demand for a more sustainable, carbon-free supply chain. NYK will propose and expand its carbon offsets to customers as an option that benefits the environment and contributes to a zero-carbon-footprint supply chain,” the company states.

The carbon credits will now form one of the company’s measures to reduce CO2 emissions while it is working to realize the group’s future carbon-free concept ship, the NYK Super ECO Ship 2050. Ultimately, NYK wants to completely eliminate emissions by using ships that sail on hydrogen and are equipped with solar panels, air lubrication and other energy-efficient features.