Environment and ecosystems
As active citizens of the Earth, we are committed to doing as little harm as possible while at the same time actively participating in restoring ocean and land health and resilience, as well as protecting animal habitats where we operate.
Why our ecosystem impacts matter
Our activities impact life on land and in oceans. The ships, trucks, trains, warehouses, depots and planes we use to store and move our customers’ goods emit pollutants to the air and into water systems. This in turn influences the living environments of humans and other species.

Defining our priorities for environment and ecosystems

Our ambition
We see ourselves as active citizens of the Earth, operating on the oceans as well as increasingly on land. We are committed to doing as little harm as possible while at the same time actively participating in restoring ocean and land health and resilience, as well as protecting animal habitats where we operate.

Priorities and actions
Ecosystem health and biodiversity
We will protect the ecosystems in which we operate and support scientific research and partnerships where synergies exist.
Waste and pollution, including air emissions
We will mitigate waste, pollution and emissions in the global supply chain through environmental management systems and global policies.
Efficient resource consumption
We will work towards efficient resource use, recovery and recycling across our company.
Responsible ship recycling
We will ensure safe and responsible ship recycling of our own vessels, and work towards creating opportunities globally to the benefit of workers, environment, responsible yards and shipowners.
Driving action through engagement
To support progress on our environmental priorities, we provide relevant training to our employees and engage actively with key stakeholders, including customers, civil society, authorities and investors on key environmental issues.
We also participate in scientific partnerships in areas where we have an impact on ecosystems, and where our vessels and expertise can be mobilised to advance research.
As science makes the interconnections between nature, biodiversity and climate change impacts clearer, we are raising our ambitions to go beyond compliance and risk management. We expect to set more detailed targets over the coming years.

Managing our growth sustainably
We are increasingly expected to have externally certified management systems in place across our full business. This is now common in tender requirements and in dialogues with our customers.
We are implementing corporate-wide a management framework with standards for how we operate and grow sustainably as a business and in compliance with global environmental requirements. This framework includes an environmental and social profiling tool and an HSSE due diligence process for highlighting sensitivities in mergers and acquisitions.
Our ocean-based activities have been ISO 14001-certified for over a decade. We are working to gain a deeper understanding of the benefits, risks and opportunities associated with establishing a company-wide third-party verified system.

Maersk Sustainability Report 2021
