Founded in 2019 with a mission to eliminate inefficiency and carbon waste in global trade logistics, MatchLog is redefining how containers move. Under the leadership of Dhruv Taneja, Founder and Global CEO, the company has built an AI-driven platform that enables container reuse by digitally matching import and export movements, reducing empty runs, fuel consumption, and emissions at scale. In this conversation, Taneja discusses how MatchLog’s circular model is helping India and Southeast Asia transition toward sustainable logistics, the role of digitalisation in decarbonising trade, and why collaboration across shipping lines, ports, and transporters is key to building a greener global supply chain.

1. What is MatchLog’s founding vision, and how is it translating sustainability goals into measurable outcomes?

MatchLog was founded in 2019 to eliminate inefficiency in container logistics. Every day, thousands of containers in India return empty from inland locations to ports, wasting fuel, time, and capacity. This linear movement is both uneconomical and environmentally damaging. Our vision was to replace this waste with a circular, technology-driven system that makes every move count.

We built an AI-based platform that connects import and export movements so that containers can be reused instead of returning empty. This directly reduces the number of truck trips, fuel usage, and emissions, while improving asset utilisation for shipping lines and transporters. Our model already saves substantial freight costs and cuts emissions at scale. We are targeting savings of over USD 100 million in freight costs and 800,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ annually as we grow. For us, sustainability is embedded in our operating model. Every reuse transaction recorded on our platform translates into measurable carbon reduction and cost efficiency for the trade ecosystem.

2. How does the container reuse model work, and what impact has it had so far on reducing emissions and costs?

The reuse model is based on triangulation. When an import-laden container is unloaded at an inland factory or warehouse, we digitally match it with an export booking that requires a container nearby. Instead of returning to port empty, the same container is reused for the export leg.

Through this approach, a single container performs multiple productive cycles before returning to port, cutting down idle runs and delays. Our technology stack enables this through real-time matching, intelligent yard placement, and digital documentation.

Operationally, this has reduced container turnaround time from an industry average of 34 days to around 4 days. The efficiency gains are substantial: fewer trucks on roads, lower congestion, and reduced fuel consumption. These outcomes translate directly into both cost and emission savings. Based on current volumes, our reuse ecosystem is projected to help the industry save up to USD 100 million in freight costs and avoid 800,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. It is a proof point that smart technology can deliver economic and environmental value simultaneously.

3. How is MatchLog building partnerships across shipping lines, ports, and transport operators to scale this ecosystem?

Partnerships are the backbone of container reuse. We work closely with shipping lines, port operators, transporters, and exporters because collaboration is essential for network-level efficiency. Our platform integrates with shipping lines such as Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and Pacific International Lines (PIL), allowing them to optimize container utilisation across locations.

At the port and yard level, we operate integrated ‘Street Turn Yards’ in logistics hubs like Morbi, Vapi, and Pune, which facilitate smooth container handovers and digital surveys. On the transport side, more than 5,000 registered transporters with 100,000 trailers use our digital systems for allocation, tracking, and automated documentation.

These linkages create a shared infrastructure that benefits every participant. By aligning incentives, we are expanding the ecosystem sustainably. We are now replicating this partnership framework across new ports and countries, starting with Southeast Asia.