DHL launches sustainable marine fuel offering for full-container load shipments

In an effort to reduce its main haul carbon emissions, DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has launched a new offering based on the use of sustainable marine fuels.

Following the launch of a similar service for less-than-container load (LCL) shipments, the logistics firm is now extending the carbon reduction option to full-container load (FCL) shipments.

Specifically, customers can now decarbonize their complete ocean freight supply chains as the new service offer a fuel-switch on behalf of the customer.

As explained, offering the option of using SMF is another step towards cleaner and greener ocean freight, in line with Deutsche Post DHL Group’s Mission 2050 of net-zero emissions logistics.

“We take a serious commitment in our fight against climate change. With the strong demand for ocean freight in Asia Pacific, we are in a prime position to offer our customers a new and easier way to reduce their carbon footprint, by choosing sustainable biofuels, and decarbonizing their entire ocean freight trade lanes,” said Kelvin Leung, CEO DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific.

DHL’s customer Lindex will be the first to switch to sustainable marine fuel for its FCL ocean freight. As a result, Lindex is decarbonizing its entire ocean freight shipments with the help of DHL Global Forwarding.

The use of sustainable marine fuels is said to be an important lever for DHL Global Forwarding to reduce the environmental footprint of ocean freight. When selecting sustainable marine fuels, care is taken to ensure that they are produced with sustainable feedstock and are not in conflict with other sustainability requirements, such as food production. Waste-based biofuels must meet the requirements to be considered the cleanest biofuels currently available on the market according to strict sustainability standards. With the goal of “burn less, burn clean”, the logistics provider aims to optimize carbon consumption across its network, fleet, and real estate.

Offering a sustainable alternative fuel for ocean freight is another step within the group’s sustainability efforts. By 2030, DHL wants to invest EUR 7 billion in climate-neutral logistics solutions and cover at least 30 percent of its fuel requirements with sustainable fuels, according to its recently published sustainability roadmap.