CMA CGM has renewed its Green Marine Europe certification in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Group’s environmental strategy and its commitment to decarbonization and maritime biodiversity protection.
The announcement came during the Green Shipping Industry Day in Brussels on September 24, 2025, where Green Marine Europe presented its 2024 performance report. The program, launched in 2020, has quickly become one of the leading environmental certification frameworks in the European maritime sector.
Expanding Green Marine Europe Program
Green Marine Europe addresses 11 performance indicators covering emissions, waste management, ship recycling, underwater noise, spill prevention, and biodiversity. Results are verified through a three-step process of self-evaluation, external audits every two years, and public reporting.
The program continues to expand its reach. By the end of 2024, it included 80 members across 12 European countries, with nearly 40 participants undergoing certification. More than 530 vessels are now covered under the framework. Membership grew by 14% last year, with 37 companies holding certification, including 28 shipowners and four shipyards.
CMA CGM’s Certification Path
CMA CGM was the first global container shipping company to obtain Green Marine Europe certification in 2020. Since then, it has maintained its position as a frontrunner, implementing technologies such as ballast water treatment systems based on ultraviolet rays that avoid chemical additives.
The Group views the certification not just as compliance but as a platform for collaboration. It participates in working groups that help refine environmental indicators and guide future maritime standards.
The certification framework provides CMA CGM with benchmarks to reduce emissions and improve environmental performance across its fleet. Public disclosure of results is part of the program, adding a layer of transparency to the Group’s sustainability efforts.
Fleet Transformation and Energy Strategy
The company’s decarbonization strategy is anchored in fleet renewal and alternative fuels. CMA CGM has committed nearly USD 20 billion to LNG and methanol-powered ships. By 2029, it expects to operate 162 vessels capable of running on low-carbon fuels such as biomethane, biomethanol, and synthetic alternatives.
Adopting what it calls an “energy agnostic” approach, the company is diversifying across biomethane, e-methane, hydrogen, electrification, and green methanol. This strategy is designed to give flexibility as technologies and fuel supply chains mature.
In parallel, CMA CGM has introduced digital tools through its SmartShip program, using artificial intelligence to optimize vessel performance and fuel efficiency in real time.
Beyond Carbon: Broader Environmental Initiatives
CMA CGM’s approach goes further than greenhouse gas reduction. The Group has integrated circular economy practices and biodiversity protection measures into its operations. These include participation in the REPCET system to protect whales and dolphins, a self-imposed ban on using the Northern Sea Route to avoid sensitive Arctic ecosystems, and partnerships with research institutes such as Ifremer to study marine biodiversity.
The company’s vessels are equipped with Lora antennas, which transmit oceanographic data to support global research. These initiatives, combined with the Group’s certification under Green Marine Europe, highlight a strategy that spans both environmental protection and scientific collaboration.
