Denmark’s EU Presidency opts for DHL’s “GoGreen” logistics

DHL said today it is the official logistics partner for Denmark’s six-month term holding the Presidency of the European Union. With sustainability a key watchword for the Danes in the EU Presidency running for the first half of this year, DHL Freight will be providing its “GoGreen” road services for carbon neutral transportation.

And, DHL Express will be providing GoGreen worldwide courier services that will also seek to minimise the environmental impact of the EU Presidency, which revolves around EU Member States every six months.

DHL said it already had a working relationship with the Danish government by supporting the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Continuing the link with DHL Freight and DHL Express will allow the Danish Presidency to be the first to be certified as sustainable, said the logistics giant.

With its “GoGreen” initiative, DHL will offset all carbon emissions associated with the shipping activities of the Danish Presidency by purchasing verified carbon credits that support environmental projects that should counter the amount of emissions generated.

Frank Appel, the CEO of Deutsche Post DHL, said: “It is a great honour for us to provide our environmentally friendly services to the Danish ministries. We are convinced that our GoGreen products are a perfect match to support the presidency to reach their sustainability goals.”

The role of the EU Presidency is to plan and chair meetings of EU government ministers on the EU Council, and its underlying organisations, as part of the lawmaking process in the EU. The EU Presidency also represents the EU Council in negotiations with other EU institutions including the EU Commission and EU Parliament.

The Danish Presidency said it was operating its logistics with the “ambitious” target of reaching the ISO20121 global standard on event sustainability.

All its contracts and tender documents for suppliers have included sustainability requirements.

The Danish government said as well as pushing the sustainability agenda in policymaking, it was also using its own activities to showcase sustainable options for things like logistics.