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CMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping company, has announced that it will be making its new eco-calculator available to customers from April 2011.

Developed according to the methodology of an international body, the Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG), the eco-calculator is said to be the first to be verified by Bureau Veritas.

According to CMA CGM, the tool produces an accurate calculation of the carbon footprint of a journey, based on real data including points of departure and arrival, volume of freight, fuel consumption and vessel speed.

“Our new tool is extremely reliable and means we can now supply customers with very accurate data about their carbon footprint. We hope this eco-calculator will prove a useful tool in the decision making process and will help customers to determine the optimal mode of transport from an ecological point of view,” explained Philippe Borel, Environment Director for the CMA CGM Group.

The French shipping group said the new tool was in line with its commitment to fighting climate change, pointing to a 21 percent fall in CO2 emissions between 2007 and 2010, from 107 to 85 grammes/kilometre-teu. The group target is 80g/km-teu by the end of 2012, a reduction of 35 percent in five years, if achieved.

"Reducing its environmental impact has been for long one of the key objectives of CMA CGM Group. Combating climate change, preservation of the oceans, proposing eco-friendly solutions to customers and developing an environmentally aware culture within the company are key components of its policy," CMA CGM said in a statement.

For further information regarding CMA CGM's environmental policy, please visit the website address below:

www.cma-cgm.com/environment