You can now cut your ocean freight emissions without changing carriers, routes or transit times. Through Flexport, shippers of any size can fund e-methanol, a fuel made from renewable electricity, in the global container fleet and claim the reduction in their Scope 3 (supply chain) emissions. It runs through the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA).
Why it matters: More than 90% of global trade moves by ocean. Supply Chain Optimization with better routing and fuller containers can cut the carbon intensity of fossil-powered shipping by up to 30%. That doesn’t get you to zero, and closing the rest of the gap takes real, scalable zero-emission fuel. Buying low-emission marine fuel used to take enterprise scale and years of carrier negotiations, and no single freight buyer has the volume to get e-fuel contracts done alone, Flexport included. ZEMBA pools the volume of many buyers. Flexport acts as a demand aggregator, a buyer that combines volume from many shippers, and turns that pool into e-fuel access on demand for you.
Recognised by The Earthshot Prize
ZEMBA is a 2026 finalist for The Earthshot Prize, the environmental award founded by Prince William, in the Revive Our Oceans category. The recognition is for bringing cargo owners together to create the demand that zero-emission shipping needs. Winners will be announced at the awards in Mumbai in November.
Ingrid Irigoyen, Founder and Managing Director of ZEMBA: “Shipping touches every industry on Earth and most products that fill our homes and shops have travelled across our oceans; it’s a complex sector. Decarbonising global shipping will require action and effort across the value chain. Cargo owners have an important role to play because the choices they make today influence the investments that shipping companies make for decades to come.”
Why you should care
Decarbonisation of transport emissions is hard, and additional levers to meet your Scope 3 targets are needed. If you’ve set Scope 3 reduction targets, ZEMBA through Flexport gives you a low-friction way to hit them.
- Carrier agnostic. Cut emissions without changing carriers, routes or transit times.
- Verified, auditable proof. Each claim comes with a third-party verified Sustainable Marine Fuel Certificate (SMFc) for your Scope 3 reporting. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) recognised book-and-claim in its Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2, published in June 2026.
- Price certainty. Pooled demand locks in e-fuel supply and pricing, so your budget stays clear of market swings.
- Built for any scale. A global brand optimising major trade lanes and a growing business making its first move on e-fuels get the same access to ZEMBA’s e-methanol capacity. More than 20 first-mover companies are already in.
Where Flexport fits
In December 2025, Hapag-Lloyd and North Sea Container Line won ZEMBA’s second tender, which ZEMBA describes as the first major commercial deployment of e-fuels in container shipping at initial scale. Flexport is one of the few forwarders in the programme and one of the first to sign. Flexport doesn’t own or operate vessels. Your claim rests on a verified certificate, and Flexport manages the data behind it.
Lizzy Stuyfzand, Manager of Climate Programs at Flexport, explains why it matters to the company:
“When we say Flexport’s mission is to make global trade easier for everybody, we mean it. That includes making maritime decarbonisation simple, accessible and frictionless.”
Lizzy Stuyfzand, Manager of Climate Programs, Flexport
How it works: book and claim
Your cargo stays on its normal lanes, and your payment puts e-methanol into the global fleet. ZEMBA’s audited book-and-claim model works in three parts:
- No bill of lading required. Your cargo doesn’t need to sail with a specific carrier for you to contribute. Flexport pools your volume into ZEMBA’s total.
- Fossil fuel actually gets replaced. Your investment funds e-methanol in the active global fleet, which cuts greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 90% over its lifecycle against conventional marine fuel.
- Flexport handles the paperwork. Flexport manages the carrier data and sends verified SMFcs straight to your account for sustainability reporting.
Get access in three steps
- Optimise your baseline. Flexport’s Supply Chain Optimization and Insights Builder show where to consolidate cargo and tighten routes. Companies that work with Flexport save up to 10% on logistics costs and up to 30% emissions reduction through better planning.
- Build your transition plan. The Climate team turns your freight profile into a simple plan: reduce first, then fund e-fuels for what is left. We model your lane volume, show the reductions available from optimisation, and size your ZEMBA contribution for the remaining emissions.
- Sign and claim. Sign off your volume, receive your verified SMFcs and claim your Scope 3 reductions through Flexport Climate Solutions.
Not sure where to start? Ask the Climate team for a transition plan: reduce what you can, fund the future for what you can’t.
Reach out to the Flexport Climate team at climate@flexport.com or visit the Flexport Sustainability Hub to check your shipping profile and reserve your 2027 e-fuel allocation. To learn more about the alliance, visit shipzemba.org.
Frequently asked questions
How does ZEMBA through Flexport work, and what does it cost?
Your cargo stays on its normal carriers and lanes. Your payment funds e-methanol in the global fleet through book and claim, and you receive verified SMFcs for your Scope 3 reporting. Pricing depends on your lane profile and is modelled by the Climate team.
Is this the same as offsetting?
No. It funds a real fuel switch in the active container fleet, so fossil marine fuel is replaced. You claim the reduction in your own Scope 3 supply chain emissions, backed by a third-party verified certificate.
What do I need to provide to get started?
Your shipment profile: your main ports, annual cargo weight and annual TEU, submitted through a Go/Ask Climate ticket or by emailing climate@flexport.com.
Do I lose control over my shipping decisions?
No. You keep your carriers, routes and transit times. Flexport manages the data and the certificates.
Can I use this towards my Scope 3 or SBTi targets?
The SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2 (June 2026) recognises book and claim for Scope 3. We would suggest checking with your own auditor on how you report it.
When do I need to decide?
Confirm your 2027 commitment during 2026.
