United European Car Carriers (UECC), a Norway-based provider of shortsea RoRo transportation, has joined the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.
The UN Global Compact is a voluntary platform where close to ten thousand corporations and organizations in 160 countries develop, implement and share best practices in sustainable and responsible business.
“We are proud to invest time and resources in a global initiative for business conduct and corporate governance that is ethical and sustainable, where people and planet are at the centre for how businesses are run. Sustainable development is desired by our parent companies, our management group, and praised by all our employees,” Glenn Edvardsen, CEO of UECC, commented.
“The principles of UN Global Compact initiative are in line with how we have conducted our business for years already, and we will ensure that we continue to comply with these guidelines, and raise the bar together with global businesses of all sizes and shapes,” he continued.
According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), carbon dioxide emissions from shipping were equal to 2.2 percent of the global human-made emissions in 2012, and are expected to rise 50 to 250 percent by 2050 if no actions were taken. This has led to the creation of many industry-led programs to reduce the negative impact. Shipping companies all over the world are taking action to commission and operate ships that are more carbon-neutral.
Edvardsen believes that the maritime industry has a long way to go towards a more carbon-neutral future. UECC has for several years invested substantially in upgrading its fleet to run on more sustainable fuels, using LNG and biofuel instead of traditional marine oil fuel.
The company has partnered with Goodships and BMW Group to reduce CO2 emissions on shipments by 80-90% and is the first to introduce RoRo ships that will operate as dual-fuel and battery-powered hybrids.
