International freight transport is a critical component of the global economy. However, the industry is also a significant source of pollution, responsible for between 7% and 11% of global carbon dioxide emissions, surpassing even the emissions of India and its 1.4 billion inhabitants. To meet the goals of the Paris agreements, it is crucial to rapidly reverse the trend of strong emission growth (+30% over the past 30 years) and to transition to an even more rapid reduction (-65% over the next 30 years). This poses significant technical, logistical, and regulatory challenges.
To achieve carbon neutrality, legislative initiatives are being pursued at various levels. At the global level, IMO's MARPOL Annex VI went into effect on November 1, 2022. It requires ships to improve their energy efficiency in the short term to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
At the European level, maritime freight has been incorporated into the European carbon market (ETS) since January 2023. This significant reform will gradually encompass all CO2 emissions from large merchant ships. Additionally, from 2026, new binding regulations will reinforce the polluter pays principle, including aviation and road transport, which have been part of the ETS since 2012.
Shippers are also required to calculate and disclose the emissions of their upstream and downstream transport.
In short, new binding standards and a carbon price that will continue to rise in the coming years.
OVRSEA helps you to reduce your carbon emissions
Although the freight forwarding sector is highly carbon-intensive and lags behind its stated climate ambitions, there are clearly defined decarbonization paths and actionable alternatives available.
As a freight forwarder, our responsibility is to help you transform your supply chain and reduce your CO₂ emissions.
To accomplish this, we systematically calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of transport proposals and carried out transports in real-time, based on the flow of your goods. These measurements allow us to draw up an accurate carbon balance available online at any time. Our trained sales teams and decarbonization experts will then help you identify decarbonization opportunities, prioritize them, and implement decarbonization levers that are adapted to your constraints.
By working with Ovrsea, you are assured of tailor-made support and actionable levers to meet your commitments in terms of reducing your carbon footprint.
OVRSEA offers its customers the opportunity to contribute directly to global carbon neutrality through its platform via the Label Bas Carbone.
Carbon neutrality rests on two pillars: reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions and increasing anthropogenic CO2 absorption. The latter is absolutely essential on a global scale. To this end, Ovrsea offers its customers the opportunity to finance projects that promote the preservation and development of carbon sinks.
To ensure the quality, legitimacy, and impact of supported projects, Ovrsea has chosen to work exclusively with Lavel Bas Carbone certified projects.
The Label Bas Carbone, launched by the French government in 2019, certifies greenhouse gas emission reduction and carbon sequestration projects across sectors such as forestry, agriculture, transportation, building, and waste management. It provides economic valuation and guarantees that such projects, carried out on national territory, contribute transparently to achieving objectives using credible and verified methods for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting.
As the saying goes, "prudence is the mother of all virtues." Among the methodologies offered by the Low Carbon Label, Ovrsea has selected the most mature and robust: the development of carbon sinks through afforestation or reforestation.
Why choose carbon sequestration through reforestation?
The forestry sector plays a major role in climate change mitigation. The forest is indeed able to sequester carbon present in the atmosphere in the form of CO2, thanks to the activity of photosynthesis. The carbon is thus stored in the forest ecosystem and in the wood products obtained after the harvest. The forestry and wood sector also allows to limit some CO2 emissions, by using wood instead of more emitting materials or energy. These are the effects of material and energy substitution.
The Low Carbon Label allows the emergence of forestry projects with an improved carbon balance compared to a reference situation. The co-benefits brought by the projects, in particular in terms of environment (biodiversity, soil and water quality...) are also valued.
How does it work for you?
It's very simple; everything happens in just a few clicks directly on the OVRSEA platform.
For each transport, OVRSEA calculates the induced emissions thanks to the Ecotransit method. At the time of booking, during transport, or even afterwards, you can choose to contribute to the emissions of a transport or even more. All your contributions will be consolidated in your dashboard dedicated to evaluating your carbon footprint.
The projects we support offer credits up to 40€/tCO2, and OVRSEA does not take any commission on these credits.
Measure, reduce, contribute
OVRSEA's vision is to promote responsible transportation by offering innovative solutions to our customers. Our goal is to contribute to a more sustainable environment. However, it's important to remember that achieving global carbon neutrality requires not only increasing absorption but primarly reducing emissions.
OVRSEA provides guidance and advice on choosing the most suitable ecological alternatives for your company.
If you have any questions or a project to reduce your carbon footprint, please contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
