DHL tool helps shippers track and cut carbon emissions

DHL Global Forwarding has launched a new calculation tool for users of its global air, ocean and road freight services to track carbon emissions for their shipments. The internet-based Carbon Dashboard its provided as part of Deutsche Post DHL’s GOGREEN initiative.

It allows customers to draw up a variety of certified reports charting the climate change emissions from the various transport modes involved in pickup, delivery and the rest of the supply chain.

DHL said it would help account for and manage carbon emissions – including from third party contractors.

Kathrin Brost, Vice President of DHL Global Forwarding’s Freight Green Strategy, said up to 50% of the carbon footprint of a product can come from its supply chain, but that the new “best-in-class” tool would help gain transparency on the issue.

She said: “In the future, carbon will become a global currency and DHL makes it easy for companies to integrate it in their balance sheet. The new Carbon Dashboard helps our customer identify their impact in detail, so that together we can find ‘greener’ solutions wherever possible.”

DHL’s Carbon Dashboard uses real data to calculate carbon dioxide emissions in relation with volumes shipped, product density and trade lane efficiency.

The company said users could use the tool to decide between various carbon reduction scenarios for their shipments.

The new tool comes alongside a range of GOGREEN options and services for Deutsche Post DHL customers including carbon reporting, consulting, emission reduction and offsetting.

Last year, DHL said it offset 82,000 tons of carbon emissions on behalf of its customers while shipping more than 1.7bn carbon-neutral items.