Toyota Cuts 22,000 Tons of CO2 Using Green Shipping Fuel

A simple switch in shipping fuel just helped Toyota prevent the same amount of carbon emissions as planting 366,215 trees and letting them grow for a decade.

Toyota Motor Europe partnered with United European Car Carriers to transport nearly 55,000 vehicles between August and December 2024 using biofuels and liquefied biomethane instead of traditional shipping fuel. The result? A verified reduction of 22,148 tonnes of CO2 emissions from their supply chain.

The numbers get even better this year. Toyota is on track to cut 57,448 tonnes of emissions in 2025 as they expand the green shipping program for vehicles traveling from manufacturing plants in Turkey and the Czech Republic to Northern Europe ports.

UECC's Chief Operating Officer Per Christian Mørk recently presented the verified emissions certificate to Toyota executives at their Brussels headquarters. The independent verification from EnviroSense confirms the savings meet strict EU sustainability standards, giving Toyota credible numbers for their environmental reporting.

The partnership builds on more than 30 years of collaboration between the companies. UECC now transports close to 200,000 Toyota vehicles annually, and the automaker was among the first major manufacturers to join UECC's "Sail for Change" initiative launched last year.

The Ripple Effect

Eleven leading automotive manufacturers have now joined the Drive Sustainability initiative, working together to create common environmental standards across their supply chains. By proving that low-carbon shipping works at scale, Toyota and UECC are showing an entire industry how to reduce emissions without disrupting operations.

Jean Christophe Deville, Toyota's Vice President of Supply Chain, emphasized that meeting their climate goals depends on partners who share their environmental values. The collaboration demonstrates how choosing the right logistics providers can transform a company's carbon footprint.

UECC continues investing in alternative fuel technologies and expanding their eco-friendly fleet, with additional green vessels scheduled for delivery in coming years. Together, these companies are proving that sustainable shipping isn't just possible, it's profitable and scalable across entire industries.