A large container ship is being maneuvered in the port by two small tugboats, while additional cargo ships and container cranes can be seen in the background.

ZEMBA: Working Together for Cleaner Maritime Shipping

Global maritime freight transport generates significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. This is exactly where the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance, or ZEMBA, comes in. Within this international alliance, major cargo owners join forces to actively advance climate-friendly shipping. The aim is to rapidly accelerate the use of renewable energy sources and alternative fuels in maritime transport, and to make a meaningful contribution to achieving climate-neutral freight shipping by 2050.

For companies like Sport-Thieme, this topic is highly relevant, as some of our products are transported by sea. Cleaner shipping means lower emissions across our supply chain, and therefore represents an important lever on our path towards stronger climate action across the entire company.

E-Fuels From Green Electricity Instead of Heavy Fuel Oil

At the heart of the ZEMBA initiative is the use of so-called e-fuels. These are synthetic fuels produced using electricity from renewable energy sources. The main focus is on e-methanol and e-ammonia. When these fuels are used instead of conventional heavy fuel oil, emissions can be reduced by up to around 91 to 95 percent. This marks a major step forward for an industry that has so far been heavily dependent on fossil fuels.

In ZEMBA’s second call for tenders, companies including Hapag-Lloyd and North Sea Container Line were selected. They have committed to using these e-fuels in regular liner operations. This creates the first scalable offerings for more climate-friendly maritime transport, and sends a strong signal to shipping companies, port operators and cargo owners worldwide.

“Book & Claim”: Climate Action Even When the Ship Operates Differently

An innovative element of the ZEMBA approach is the so-called “book and claim” model. It allows cargo owners to book emission reductions in maritime transport without requiring their specific container route to be operated by a ship running on e-fuels. What matters is that the overall volume of climate-friendly fuel is actually used in the market and verifiably reduces emissions.

This principle lowers the barrier for companies to get started with climate-friendly logistics. Emissions within the transport chain can be reduced even if not enough green-powered vessels are yet available on every route. At the same time, it creates a reliable economic incentive for shipping companies to operate more vessels using e-fuels.

Sport-Thieme Actively Participates

ZEMBA demonstrates how powerful collective action can be when many cargo owners join forces and jointly demand climate-friendly solutions. Sport-Thieme consciously supports this initiative. We contribute financially to ZEMBA and are therefore an active part of this international alliance of cargo owners that is deliberately strengthening the market for low-emission maritime shipping.

Through our contribution, we specifically support the use of e-fuels such as e-methanol and e-ammonia in container shipping. In this way, we help expand climate-friendly shipping services and ensure that emissions in global supply chains are actually reduced, including in the logistics behind our own products.

In the long term, the transformation of maritime shipping will only succeed with clear political frameworks, reliable partners and determined pioneers. By participating in ZEMBA, we make one thing clear. Sport-Thieme takes responsibility beyond its own operations and helps move climate-friendly maritime transport from pilot projects into widespread practice.