More than a dozen manufacturers, retailers and shipping companies, including LL Bean and Nike, Inc., have announced the Clean Cargo Environmental Performance Survey for shippers to gauge their carriers' environmental
management performance and address the environmental impacts of their ocean-going transportation.
The survey was developed by members of the Business for Responsibility's Clean Cargo Group, a worldwide committee
consisting of multinational corporations who have voluntarily developed environmental guidelines for ocean transportation.
Transportation ranks alongside electricity generation and manufacturing as
one of the three most significant sources of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions. As global trade increases, GHG emissions from ocean vessels are
also expected to rise. BSR Clean Cargo Group participants, who together
represent approximately 33% of containerized cargo carriers and 20% of the top
50 U.S. importers of containerized cargo by volume, collaborated on developing
the survey, which was announced at the Business for Social Responsibility
Annual Conference.
“The aim of the survey is to provide shippers and carriers with a common
reporting tool to begin examining the overall environmental impacts associated
with ocean transportation,” explains Michelle Lapinski, BSR Senior Manager,
Business and Environment. “The hope is that this survey will lead to better
communication between carriers and their customers about fuel efficiency and
related environmental improvements that can be sought over time. It's a
powerful tool in helping to identify collaborative approaches to environmental
management.”
The survey is a supply-chain management tool for manufacturers and
retailers establishing a set of environmental indicators and reporting
standards for ocean-going carriers who transport their companies' products.
The survey includes a set of metrics along with practical steps to help
companies understand and measure environmental impacts. Among its potential
benefits, the survey will help ocean carriers and their customers assess
options for increased fuel efficiency, which in turn will lower emissions and
help improve air quality.
“We are committed to achieving high environmental standards,” said Jeffrey
D. Brown, senior vice president, Global Supply Chain Operations, Chiquita
Brands, Inc. “As members of the Clean Cargo Group, we believe we have an
opportunity to learn from other environmentally conscious companies and help
raise awareness and commitment to environmental responsibility in the shipping
industry.”
The collaboration between customers and suppliers benefits both parties by
establishing industry-supported methodologies for reporting and calculating
environmental performance. The partnership developed while creating the
survey will enable companies to work together to address multiple
environmental impacts of shipping products, as well as find cost-effective and
mutually beneficial solutions.
“HP established a supplier evaluation program for environmental
performance over 10 years, but to date has not included carriers, due
primarily to a lack of carrier specific criteria,” said Paul Quickert,
Regulatory Tracking & Compliance manager. “For ocean freight carriers, the
Clean Cargo Group not only satisfied that need by partnering with carriers to
develop the criteria, it secured the endorsement of some of the top ocean
freight carriers in the world in the process.”
“The Clean Cargo Group representatives are multi-nationals genuinely
committed to the process and the success of the mission. Everyone is looking
for ways to accomplish the highly complex task of measuring and ultimately
reducing emissions for the common good,” said David M. Knight, president and
CEO of Teragren.