Thanks to climate change and numerous other factors, there has been a lot of attention placed on sustainability over the past few years. Many they companies are changing their practices to become more sustainable, whether it be because seek to become more environmentally conscious or because government regulations require them too. The cargo shipping industry has caught on and begun making changes that will make them more sustainable.
Cutting Emissions
Over the past decade, an increasing number of companies have chosen to ship by sea rather than ship by air. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions from the cargo-shipping industry have been on the rise. The cargo shipping industry is responsible for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization recently came up with a plan of action to reduce shipping emissions by at least 50% by 2050.
Without the plan in place, cargo-shipping gas emissions were on track to increase by up to 250% by 2050. The deal encourages shippers to make containers more energy efficient and to streamline their operations so that they can reduce waste from unnecessary processes. Researchers estimate that currently, the cargo shipping industry burns through approximately 250 million tons of fuel annually.
The regulations passed by the United Nations proved to be groundbreaking because previously, it was difficult to control the global shipping industry. Many global activities take place in international waters. The United Nations is likely the only organization who could have stepped up to implement regulations.
Ways To Cut Carbon Emissions
There are numerous methods and tools cargo shippers are going to use to cut their carbon emissions. Perhaps one of the most obvious or easiest to implement is the use of solar power on ships. Since ships are sitting in the ocean in the middle of the day, there’s an abundance of energy that, when harnessed correctly, could provide clean fuel for all those in the industry.
The concept has already begun to come to fruition. For example, Greg Atkinson, who once served in the Royal Australian Navy, is working with Eco Marine Power to create rigid solar panels for use on large sea-faring vessels, like cargo ships. Atkinson estimates that his products could help lower emissions by approximately 10%.
As pharmaceuticals developed, temperature control requirements for drugs became more intense. Sometimes, shippers use elaborate mechanisms to maintain the cold chain. However, these mechanisms can use quite a lot of energy when left running for an entire cross-ocean trip. Shippers would be wise to look into alternative products that could be used to protect the cold-chain.
An example of a product that would minimize temperature excursions without using any energy SureTemp Container Blankets. When looking to maintain temperature stability, these are the most reliable blankets available. The outer shell of the blanket consists of a heavy-gauge polyethylene material that is then heat-sealed to a poly-coated aluminum foil. Shippers can use the blankets to both trap warmth or reflect heat, helping products stay within their target ranges.
