DHL Global Forwarding: We need to act now for a sustainable future
DHL Global Forwarding, Deutsche Post DHL Group’s air and ocean freight specialist, and IAG Cargo have entered into a strategic partnership in the field of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
In this context, DHL has signed a contract to purchase 11.5 million litres of SAF in 2023 to further reduce its Scope 3* transport emissions. The SAF, which is certified according to the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (SCC) standard, is made from used cooking oil and food waste and has at least 80% lower life cycle emissions compared to conventional kerosene. The partnership is another milestone on the road to more sustainable air freight and is in line with Deutsche Post DHL Group’s sustainability goals to reduce all logistics-related emissions to net zero by 2050. DHL only uses sustainably produced SAF, for example from food waste or used cooking oil.
“We are convinced that the design of a more sustainable freight sector can only be achieved together. Therefore, we are constantly looking for other companies with whom we can cooperate and are very pleased to announce the partnership with IAG Cargo in this context. We need to act now for a sustainable future,” said Thomas Mack, Global Head of Air Freight, DHL Global Forwarding.
David Shepherd, CEO of IAG Cargo, adds: “By collaborating with colleagues, customers and partners, embedding sustainable thinking and action in the company and making ourselves fit for the future, we at IAG Cargo are consistently trying to reduce our impact on the environment. IAG was the first European airline group to commit to operating 10% of its flights with SAF by 2030 – and this partnership represents another step towards that goal.”
The new partnership between DHL Global Forwarding and IAG Cargo was signed at an event at the Phillips 66 Humber refinery in England, where part of the SAF is produced.
Sustainability along the supply chain: SAF is a crucial part of the GoGreen Plus service
As a pioneer in the field of sustainable logistics, DHL supports its customers in making their logistics and supply chains more environmentally friendly. An important part of the sustainability strategy “Mission 2050 – Zero Emissions” is the GoGreen Plus service, which enables customers to decarbonize their transport by choosing sustainable fuels and alternative technologies in sea and air freight as well as land transport.
In this context, DHL pursues the so-called insetting approach, in which, among other things, sustainable fuels are used. The basic idea is to eliminate emissions where they are emitted, instead of offsetting them through reforestation projects, for example. The more customers book the GoGreen Plus service, the more alternative fuels or clean technologies are used – making transport chains greener step by step. In accordance with this principle, the corresponding amount of biofuel is purchased for the respective air or sea freight shipment and used in the partners’ ships and aircraft.
