DHL “noticeably driving forward the decarbonization of their supply chains”
DHL Global Forwarding and Hapag-Lloyd have reached another milestone in their joint efforts to decarbonise supply chains.
The two companies have signed a three-year framework agreement to specifically reduce Scope 3 emissions through the use of alternative marine fuels in the Hapag-Lloyd fleet. As part of this agreement, the first order to avoid 25,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions along the entire fuel chain (“well-to-wake”) was successfully implemented in July 2025. The second-generation biofuels used come from waste and residues, which underlines the consistent commitment of both companies to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“The signing of this three-year framework agreement is an important step in realizing our shared vision of climate-neutral shipping,” said Casper Ellerbaek, Head of Global Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding. “We look forward to working with Hapag-Lloyd to advance the use of sustainable marine fuels and the book-and-claim mechanism to help our customers achieve their climate goals.”
The agreement shows how the “Book and Claim” mechanism works in practice. Customers can claim Scope 3 emission reductions for their transports, even if the sustainable marine fuel is not used directly in their own transport. Precisely because alternative marine fuels are still scarce and expensive worldwide, this decoupling of fuel use and emission credits is particularly valuable.
“We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with DHL. It shows that the use of alternative marine fuels through our Ship Green product is a real and effective way to reduce Scope 3 emissions,” said Danny Smolders, Managing Director Global Sales at Hapag-Lloyd, adding: “The collaboration with DHL shows how much we can achieve together. Together, we are noticeably driving forward the decarbonization of our supply chains step by step.”
Both companies are pursuing ambitious decarbonization targets: Hapag-Lloyd aims to achieve net-zero fleet operations by 2045, while DHL aims to achieve net-zero emissions across the company by 2050. Providing sustainable logistics solutions for customers is a key lever for achieving these goals.
DHL’s GoGreen Plus products provide decarbonized solutions for DHL’s core offerings by using sustainable fuels and low-carbon technologies. The GoGreen Plus products are based on a true decarbonisation of the value chain, which is made possible by the so-called ‘Book & Claim’ approach. GoGreen Plus allows customers to reduce their indirect Scope 3 emissions in their value chain, which are generated by upstream and downstream transport and distribution processes. It also helps customers voluntarily document their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to demonstrate progress towards their decarbonisation goals.
Hapag-Lloyd has been using second-generation biofuels since 2020. Since 2023, the company has been offering its customers the option of claiming the avoided emissions for their transports with the “Ship Green” product. Biofuels are used to replace conventional marine fuel oil (MFO).
Through the collaboration and use of Book and Claim and sustainable marine fuels, DHL and Hapag-Lloyd are driving the industry’s transformation towards a more sustainable future.
