NYK Line has signed an agreement with US-based carbon removal company Graphyte, Inc. to purchase carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits generated by the company’s Loblolly project in Arkansas.

The Loblolly project applies Graphyte’s proprietary carbon-casting technology to dry and compress biomass residues derived from agriculture, forestry, and wood processing. The carbon contained in these materials is then converted into a stable solid form and stored underground for long-term sequestration — designed to enable highly durable carbon removal.

CDR credits generated by the project are certified through a system of measurement, reporting, and verification conducted by independent third parties, NYK noted, adding that this process is intended to ensure transparency and reliability.

NYK stated that while the group is pursuing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — including maximising energy efficiency and transitioning to next-generation fuels such as LNG, ammonia, and methanol — some residual emissions in the shipping industry cannot be avoided through operational or technical measures alone. The company intends to use CDR credits to offset these residual emissions as part of its broader goal of achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.

The agreement is consistent with a position paper on CDR credits that NYK published in 2025, which sets out the group’s approach to using various types of carbon removal as a complement to direct emissions reduction efforts.

NYK said it will continue to work with customers to advance decarbonisation efforts in line with the position paper framework.