Aker BioMarine introduced its ambitious sustainability goals towards 2030 and as part of its sustainability strategy, the company commits to: 

• Reduce CO₂ emissions per ton of krill produced by 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
• Deploy use of green ammonia to power the company’s vessels to support the reduced emissions goal.
• Reduce CO₂ emissions per ton of krill oil produced by 50% by 2030 in the Houston production plant. Aker BioMarine uses advanced science and data analysis to improve the production processes to reach the target.
• Support and drive AION, the newly launched circularity company that will repurpose all products and plastic waste into new products that are used in high volumes such as shopping baskets and food trays. AION is already working with customers such as McDonald’s, NorgesGruppen and Varner. 
• Reduce the amount of fuel used to locate krill through the use of ocean drones and flying drones. These devices minimize the time harvesting vessels need to spend searching for krill. Aker BioMarine has already deployed its first ocean data drone with the aim of significantly reducing financial and environmental costs and collecting scientific information. All the drones collecting data operate with zero emission. 

“We consider ourselves pioneers, which for us means that we want to lead our industry in a more sustainable direction. As a company, we make no excuses when it comes to meeting our targets. We are forging a new and more planet-friendly path, tackling challenges, embracing technology and making more sustainable choices than ever done before in our industry,” said Matts Johansen, CEO of Aker BioMarine. 

Green ammonia on vessels in Antarctica

At the end of February 2021, Aker BioMarine and Aker Clean Hydrogen signed an agreement and are teaming up with other key players to industrialize the production of green ammonia, in an industry-first move. This will support Aker BioMarine’s mission to make the vessels completely carbon-free. For example, Aker BioMarine’s newest support vessel, Antarctic Provider, is equipped with the most energy-efficient engine in the world, a hybrid engine that is convertible for greener fuels of the future.

“Green ammonia is the most promising sustainable fuel for the shipping industry. It is essential that the industry tests and develops solutions for ammonia on a large scale. This will make it possible not only for Aker BioMarine but also for Norwegian suppliers and renewable companies, to be world-leading on greener solutions for a broad range of sectors,” said Christina Ianssen, Sustainability manager at Aker BioMarine.

Aker BioMarine plans to have vessels that are using ammonia as fuel towards 2030 when the infrastructure for production and distribution of green ammonia is in place.

Cut CO₂ emissions in half by 2030

The company's ambitions for CO₂-cuts are closely connected to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically goal 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and to slow and stop global warming. To achieve this, CO₂ emissions must be reduced significantly in the near-term.

In the last ten years, Aker BioMarine has cut its CO₂ emissions per ton of krill produced by approximately 50%. The goal is to do this again in the next ten years. Aker BioMarine has already implemented several sustainability initiatives towards its goal, such as the implementation of analytical tools to reduce consumption of consumables and energy at the Houston manufacturing plant, reuse of energy and efficiency projects on the vessels. These initiatives have put the company on course to reach its 2030 targets.

Further, Aker BioMarine has signed off on eight sustainability commitments achieve by 2030. These commitments will guide the company in ensuring responsible operations throughout the value chain, as well as in making a positive impact:

• Reduce its carbon intensity per ton of krill produced by 50% from 2020 levels.
• Ensure full circularity on all of its principal waste streams.
• Make aquaculture production more efficient, by contributing to 1 billion extra servings of seafood produced annually.
• Combat lifestyle diseases by delivering 5 billion doses of health-promoting nutrients annually.
• Develop innovative products that play an integral role in sustainable diets and the future food system.
• Decarbonize aqua and animal feed by delivering low-carbon marine ingredients.
• Improve the sustainability of fisheries through contributing to data and science-driven regulation and ocean management.
• Maintain unconditional Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification and ensure transparency in vessel operations.

“These sustainability goals support our overall purpose – to improve human and planetary health – and make this purpose even more tangible. Every single person working in Aker BioMarine is involved in achieving these goals, and we will work across the company’s entire value chain to make sure we lead the way to a net-zero end,” Johansen added.