---
source_url: "https://www.thescxchange.com/move/choice-of-carrier-can-make-huge-difference-in-reducing-greenhouse-gas"
title: "Reduce GHG: Carrier Choice Makes Huge Impact | The Supply Chain Xchange"
mirrored_at: 2026-08-16T01:03:16.199Z
host: www.thescxchange.com
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> **Original source:** https://www.thescxchange.com/move/choice-of-carrier-can-make-huge-difference-in-reducing-greenhouse-gas

As shippers worldwide seek to reduce their Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, their choice of carriers can materially reduce that exposure, according to a report from [Hamburg, Germany-based OceanScore.](https://oceanscore.com/)

For example, the maritime freight lines MSC and OOCL offer shippers the strongest combination of scale, efficiency, and predictability, according to the second edition of [OceanScore’s monthly Scope 3 at Sea report](https://oceanscore.com/cargofp/reports/). That conclusion is based on analysis of the Asia–Northern Europe trade lane for the period January–June 2025, the report said.

Measuring that pollution is a critical step for companies striving to meet GHG Protocol standards as shipping decarbonization regulations tighten, pressuring shippers and freight forwarders to manage and report Scope 3 emissions accurately.

[The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines Scope 3 emissions](https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/scope-3-inventory-guidance) as the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organization, but that the organization indirectly affects in its value chain. An organization’s value chain consists of both its upstream and downstream activities, EPA said.

According to OceanScore, its report highlights striking differences in how major carriers balance scale, emissions efficiency, and operational consistency. MSC and OOCL emerged as the most efficient carriers on the Asia–Northern Europe trade lane, thanks to their combination of below-average carbon intensity, steadier speed profiles, and consistent vessel utilization.

“On a long-haul corridor like Asia–Northern Europe, the difference between vessels can be huge,” Thomas Smith, Head of Cargo Solutions at OceanScore, said in a release. “A well-utilized, fuel-efficient ship can emit far less per container than one that sails faster or emptier, even on the same route. While shippers can’t control every operational decision, consistency is the trend that matters, and with voyage-level data, they can make smarter carrier choices that keep emissions and carbon costs down.”  

The researchers said they help users make more informed choices of carriers by tracking three variables: carbon intensity (gCO₂/tonne-km), speed profiles (ULCV sailing speeds), and utilization consistency (how steadily ships are filled).

“The carriers you choose on this corridor can make a big difference to your Scope 3 emissions,” Smith said. “On long-haul voyages, there will always be some outliers caused by rerouting, congestion, or weather. What matters most is consistency: carriers that regularly make lower-carbon operational choices, through steadier speeds, stronger utilization, and fewer extremes, help keep Scope 3 exposure lower and more predictable over time.”