MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company·Shipping / Logistics·Geneva, Switzerland·Founded 1976·Last verified 31 May 2026
22
out of 100
Significant gapsPending Review

MSC operates the world's largest container shipping fleet with a 35+ million tonne annual carbon footprint, yet shows minimal absolute emissions reductions, unvalidated net-zero pledges, and multiple upheld greenwashing rulings. Fleet expansion masks intensity gains. No credible pathway to decarbonization.

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale
Industry base impact
Shipping / Logistics sector ceiling.
30 / 100
Performance score
Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.
32 / 100
Raw score
Weighted average before scale penalty.
(0.3 × 30) + (0.7 × 32) = 31.4
Scale penalty
Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.
× 0.7
Final score
Rounded. Significant gaps.
22 / 100
The ten questions

Where MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Transparency & Accountability (5/10, 5/10). Weakest on Targets & Commitments and Water Impact (2/10, 2/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

20 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Self-reported
Mediterranean Shipping Company Cargo Division GHG Emissions Statistics
2023
Q1Q3
View →
[2]Self-reported
Mediterranean Shipping Company Cruises Division GHG Emissions Statistics
2023
Q1Q3
View →
[3]Self-reported
MSC GRI Content Index
Ongoing
Q1Q2Q9
View →
[4]Third-party verified
Decarbonizing Shipping through Organisational Learning and Stakeholder Engagement
2026
Q2
View →
[5]Self-reported
MSC Carbon Calculator
Ongoing
Q2
View →
[6]Self-reported
MSC Sustainability Report 2024 Press Release
2024
Q3Q4Q5
View →
[7]Third-party verified
MSC Statistics and Facts
2024
Q4Q6
View →
[8]Public record
S&P Global Commodities: Interview on MSC Multi-Fuel Fleet
2023
Q4
View →
[9]Self-reported
MSC Cruises Sustainability: Planet
Ongoing
Q5Q7
View →
[10]Self-reported
MSC Foundation 2024 Annual Report
2024
Q5
View →
[11]Self-reported
MSC Sustainability Overview
Ongoing
Q6
View →
[12]Third-party verified
Friends of the Earth: MSC Cruises Water Quality Assessment
Unknown
Q7
View →
[13]Third-party verified
Sustainable Ships Database: MSC Profile
Ongoing
Q8
View →
[14]Self-reported
MSC Carbon Neutral Programme
Ongoing
Q8
View →
[15]Self-reported
MSC Progress on Sustainability Commitments News
2023
Q8
View →
[16]Public record
UN Global Compact: MSC Participation Report
Ongoing
Q9
View →
[17]Third-party verified
Go Fossil Free: MSC Cruises Greenwashing Verdict
2024
Q10
View →
[18]Third-party verified
Opportunity Green: ASA Upholds LNG Greenwashing Claims Against MSC Cruises
2025
Q10
View →
[19]Third-party verified
InfluenceMap: International Chamber of Shipping Climate Engagement
Ongoing
Q10
View →
[20]Self-reported
MSC: Shipping CEOs Accelerating Decarbonization Declaration
2023
Q10
View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company in context

Where MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company sits among shipping / logistics peers.

Among the 14 major shipping / logistics brands we've scored, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company sits 12th of 14.

12/14
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company's rank
30
Industry average
18
Industry low
46
Industry high
How this score has moved

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company's score over time.

today

Score history begins 4 April 2026.

As MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is the world's largest container shipping operator, headquartered in Geneva. Founded in 1976, it operates 880+ vessels serving global trade with 200,000 employees. The privately-held company also runs MSC Cruises. Revenue exceeded €86 billion in FY2022, making it a logistics and transport giant with outsized climate and marine ecosystem impact.

Founded
1976
Headquarters
Geneva, Switzerland
Employees
~200,000
Annual revenue
~$76.4B
Company website ↗
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