Trader and charterer Cargill is targeting a 15% cut in carbon emissions across its bulker fleet by 2020.
The US giant, which has 650 chartered-in vessels, told Reuters it is bringing in more modern ships and getting involved in designing greener newbuildings.
Jan Dieleman, head of the Ocean Transportation unit, said the company is also urging owners to fit scrubbers and explore the use of LNG and biofuels.