DHL and Henkel Expand Use of Sustainable Marine Fuel in Logistics Partnership

DHL Global Forwarding and Henkel are extending their collaboration to scale up the use of sustainable marine fuel (SMF) in ocean freight, building on a pilot initiative launched in 2024.

The partnership aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by integrating waste- and residues-based maritime fuels into Henkel’s supply chain. According to DHL, the collaboration will cover 9,000 TEUs of ocean freight in 2025 and is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by around 4,700 tonnes of CO₂e, equivalent to an 85 percent cut on the main haul compared with conventional marine fuel.

“This expansion of our partnership is another milestone in our joint decarbonisation journey,” said Amanda Rasmussen, Chief Commercial Officer at DHL Global Forwarding. “By combining Henkel’s ambitious climate strategy with our sustainable logistics solutions, we are demonstrating that progress toward decarbonising supply chains is possible today. We hope this agreement will inspire other companies to transition to low-emission transportation services using sustainable marine fuel.”

The SMF deployment will be supported through DHL’s Book and Claim system. Under this model, DHL purchases sustainable fuel which is then supplied into existing marine transport infrastructure. While the fuel may not be physically used on DHL-managed shipments, the emissions reductions are attributed to DHL and allocated to its customers, including Henkel.

Henkel, a chemicals and consumer goods manufacturer, has been working with DHL to explore lower-carbon logistics solutions. “Working with DHL Global Forwarding on sustainable transport solutions is an important part of our strategy to reduce emissions within our logistics processes,” said Ondřej Slezáček, Global Category Manager Sea and Air Freight at Henkel. “Simultaneously, it helps accelerate the overall transition to low-emission logistics in our industry.”

DHL Global Forwarding, which employs over 31,000 freight forwarding specialists in more than 190 countries, has set a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Its GoGreen Plus programme supports customers in cutting transport-related emissions through the use of sustainable fuels and low-carbon technologies.

The expanded cooperation with Henkel reflects increasing demand for sustainable solutions within global supply chains and contributes to strengthening the market for alternative marine fuels.