Ships powered by green fuel have helped CBH skirt around new European Union regulations which penalise shipping companies for using fossil fuel.
A program to enable supply of green fuel has helped CBH avoid new European Union regulations which penalise shipping companies for using fossil fuel.
CBH launched Australia’s first biofuel insetting pilot project with global shipping companies Norden and Oldendorff.
Insetting is essentially a term for reducing carbon emissions within a company's value chain, rather than the common industrial method of using offsets.
Under the project ships laden with grain from Western Australia were registered under the biofuels insetting pilot project.
Biofuels significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions compared to traditional maritime fuels.
CBH head of shipping Pia Van Wyngaard said eight voyages to Europe had sailed under the pilot to date.
“We’re proud to be involved with projects that reduce our environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiencies and maximising value for WA growers,” she said.
"Customers, governments and communities are expecting stronger sustainability efforts, and we are working to ensure WA growers remain competitive and can readily meet our customers' needs.
“These initiatives allow us to lower our carbon footprint for access to key markets such as Europe, and support CBH’s broader sustainability plan.”
Biofuel under the program aew been made using waste products and came at no additional cost to growers.
The trial comes as the European Union progresses its emission-reducing regulations aimed at ships weight more than 5,000 tonnes trading with EU countries.
CBH said many customers had chosen to wear the extra penalties incurred under the policy rather than switch to biofuel.
