Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) scooped the Americas use-of-proceeds innovation award for its debut green bond to finance zero-emission infrastructure at the Californian port.

The Macquarie Asset Management-owned firm issued the US private placement (USPP) green bond in February 2025, with Natixis also serving as co-green coordinator and placement agent.

The proceeds will be used to finance zero-emission equipment, including ship-to-shore cranes, yard cranes, and battery and charging systems. Much of this equipment currently operates using diesel engines.

An Environmental Finance Sustainable Debt Awards judge praised the bond for its "strong innovation" in a sector which is "traditionally difficult to decarbonise". In particular, the judge was impressed that the eligible proceeds all "directly reduce operational emissions within global logistics supply chains".

In contrast, other green bonds from hard-to-abate sectors have often focused on investments focused on efficiency gains rather than direct elimination of operational emissions.

The fact that the transaction was completed as a USPP was also appreciated by the judge for its role in "broadening sustainable capital mobilisation into hard-to-abate transport infrastructure".

The broader LBCT green financing framework – which was judged aligned with the Green Bond Principles by Sustainalytics – also allows the port to invest in projects related to renewable energy, water management systems, and biodiversity initiatives in the future.