Why is this important?
Freight is responsible for about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.(1) Air travel is by far the most polluting mode (1 054 gCO2 /t-km). On the contrary, maritime transport emits the least amount of CO2 per ton transported (19 gCO2 /ton-km), even if the quality of the fuel used often causes serious local pollution problems.(1) If done carefully, the shift from air to sea can significantly reduce freight emissions without compromising deliveries.
Aircraft is frequently used to transport goods, which is necessary in certain circumstances, such as to respond quickly to emergencies, or to transport sensitive items and perishable goods. However, it can be kept to a minimum. There are many cases where it is possible to transport certain goods by sea, without compromising the mission of organisations.
What is the solution ?
Organise sea transport instead of air transport for as many goods and in as many cases as possible. Using sea freight more systematically not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also makes significant financial savings.
There are several ways to increase an organisation’s share of sea freight. Accurate and contextualised annual international order planning and detailed knowledge of each stage of the order are key elements of change.
The planning work should be carried out in close collaboration with users of the goods ordered and procurement managers. Decentralising storage sites and developing regional logistics hubs installed as close as possible to projects sites, reduces transport times and distances, but also encourages local purchasing.
Points of attention
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Although it emits far less greenhouse gas per ton transported than air freight, sea freight was responsible for around 3% of global emissions before the Covid-19 pandemic, mainly due to the use of heavy fuel oil. (2) The sector is undergoing a transformation and aiming to reduce emissions. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has set a target of 40% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 and 50% reduction by 2050 compared to 2008.(3) To achieve this goal, technological innovations and alternative fuels are already available, and others are being studied or tested. It is therefore possible for an international organisation to choose eco-responsible shipping companies committed to emission reduction policies.(2)
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Is sea freight really that slow?
Maritime transport has a reputation for being slow. It is often not used for this reason. However, when you consider the entire supply chain, from initial order to receipt of goods on the ground, shipping by sea can take the same amount of time (if not less) as shipping by air. Tax clearance and pre-clearance formalities can be completed during the ship’s voyage and completed when the ship arrives in port. In air freight, however, all procedures must be completed before the aircraft departs so that any sensitive goods can be properly stored upon arrival at their destination. Where clearance and pre-clearance procedures are lengthy (sometimes up to eight weeks), it is common to find that sea freight does not take longer than air freight.
Key actions
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#1 Plan annually
Establish an annual planning of the orders, taking into account the supply times calculated according to the specificities of the articles and the contexts.
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#2 Increase regional storage capacity
Develop regional warehouses and logistics centres to store goods near projects, especially items sourced directly from suppliers, to minimise distances and optimise the supply chain.
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#3 Purchase locally
Give preference to local or regional purchases of equal quality.
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#4 Choose transport companies carefully
Choose more environmentally-responsible transport companies, using alternative fuels and/or technological innovations which respect the current regulation on the maximum sulphur content of 0.5% in the fuel of ships (International Maritime Organisation).
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#5 Use reefer containers
Use reefer containers for temperature-controlled cargo.
To consider
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Potential co-benefits
- Reduction of transportation costs
- Better order and supply chain management
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Success conditions
- Close collaboration between actors involved in the ordering process
- Precise estimation of each step of the procurement process, considering the life cycle of the products, administrative and customs formalities, pre- and post-shipment times, etc.
- Choice of transport company based on environmental criteria
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Prerequisites & specificities
- Orders that are critical to emergency operations requiring a quick response and short-lived or sensitive items require air transport
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Potential risks
- Fuel oil used as fuel by ships causes significant air pollution (sulfur dioxide emissions) and water pollution (acidification) due to discharges, degassing at sea and shipwrecks
Tools and good practices
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Freight Emission calculator for greenhouse gases and exhaust emissions, EcoTransitIT
Freight Emission calculator for greenhouse gases and exhaust emissions
Explore here -
Comparison of cargo companies, Gliese Foundation
A review of sustainability reports of cargo companies
Explore here -
EU shipping's climate record, Transport & Environment, 2019
EU shipping's climate record - Transport & Environment Report (Table 4, p12)
Explore here
To go further
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Accelerating the complete decarbonisation of transport, (FR)
Introduction to initiatives aiming to accelerating the decarbonisation of the transport sector: FRET21 (for shippers), EV.com (for freight forwarders), and Objectifs CO2 (for carriers).
Explore here -
Video presentation, ADEME & FRET21: freight in the era of decarbonisation, 2022, (FR)
Watch here -
Global transport: CO2 emissions on the rise, planète-energies, 2020, (FR)
Guide to the drafting of specifications for transporters – ADEME.
Explore here -
Sustainable Shipping Initiative
The Sustainable Shipping Initiative is a multi-stakeholder collective of ambitious and like-minded leaders, driving change through cross-sectoral collaboration to contribute to – and thrive in – a more sustainable maritime industry.
Explore here -
How can global freight reduce its ecological footprint?, Centre d’analyse stratégique, 2010, (FR)
Short paper on strategies to reduce the environmental impact of global transport.
Explore here -
How MSF France reduced its carbon footprint by switching to sea freight, Climate Action Accelerator
Explore here -
Infographic on the impact of freight, Research and Traffic Group, 2013, (FR)
Explore here
Freight
Transport
How MSF France reduced its carbon footprint by switching to sea freight
Low-emission sea freight
Sources
(1) Centre d’analyse stratégique, ‘Comment le fret mondial peut-il réduire son empreinte écologique’, Centre d’analyse stratégique, 2010, Available here, (accessed 22 August 2025).
(2) The International Council on Clean Transportation, ‘Greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping, 2013-2015’, The ICCT, 2017, Available here, (accessed 22 August 2025).
(3) International Maritime Organization, Initial OMI GHG Strategy’, International Maritime Organization, Available here, (accessed 22 August 2025).
(4) Vie Publique, ‘Le fret Mondial et le changement climatique’, Vie Publique, 2010, Available here, (accessed 22 August 2025).
(5) Universal Cargo, ‘Air Freight vs Ocean Shipping 8 Round Fight – Which Will Win Your Cargo’, Universal Cargo, 2016, Available here, (accessed 22 August 2025).
(6) Climate Action Accelerator, ‘How MSF France reduced its carbon footprint by switching to sea freight’, Climate Action Accelerator, Available here, (accessed 22 August 2025).
(7) ALIMA, ‘ALIMA Environmental Action: Achievements, lessons and outlook’, ALIMA, 2024, Available here, (accessed 22 August 2025).
(8) Globex Ship, ‘Air freight vs sea freight : core differences’, Globex Ship, Available here, (accessed 22 August 2025).
Acknowledgements
Last updated 21st of October 2025.
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Cover photo © William William/Unsplash.