DHL Express offers choice to choose SAF to cut emissions

DHL announced the launch of GoGreen Plus, a new service that will allow customers to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their shipments through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

DHL, part of Deutsche Post DHL Group, is the leading global brand in the logistics industry, offering an unrivaled portfolio of services, including international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping, international express, and road, air, and ocean transport, to mention a few. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to the environment, the group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.

DHL is the first global express carrier to give its customers the option of using SAF. It will initially launch in the UK, followed by Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Starting this month, DHL customers in these countries can select GoGreen Plus when choosing their shipping service through MyDHL+, the company’s online shipping and tracking platform.

SAF is a renewable biofuel used to power aircraft. It has the potential to deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel but with a fraction of its carbon footprint, giving airlines a chance to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from flights. Some emerging pathways of SAF even have a net-negative GHG footprint.

With GoGreen Plus, customers will get a chance to tailor the Carbon Dioxide reduction they want to achieve and the amount of SAF they use. GoGreen Plus will become available to all DHL Express customers globally over the course of the year.

Insetting through GoGreen Plus allows customers to bring down their Scope 3 emissions, the indirect GHG emissions that occur in a company’s value chain, including downstream transportation and distribution. Unlike offsetting initiatives, GoGreen Plus reduces emissions within the aviation industry and other sectors and can be used for DHL customers’ own voluntary emission reporting.

The services were introduced following the company’s recent collaborations with bp and Neste to supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel to DHL Express hubs worldwide. The renewable part of the innovative fuel is produced from waste oils which can provide greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to 80% over its life cycle compared to conventional jet fuel.

Investing in sustainable solutions is a priority for Wellous as it constantly seeks greener fuel alternatives. Through this strategic partnership, it is addressing its carbon footprint at source and making a positive impact on its value chain.

Wellous Group’s use of GoGreen Plus will be effective across its intercontinental trade network, including Asia, North America, Middle East, and Oceania. This partnership with DHL includes a framework to explore cooperation in other climate-neutral projects, communications, and community engagement.

SAF has been identified as one of the critical elements in helping achieve the ambitious emission reduction goals. Deutsche Post DHL Group’s sustainability goal is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

To test the SAFc concept, DHL joined United Airlines’ Eco-Skies Alliance, which utilizes a book and claim system to help fund the purchase of SAF. In early 2022, the DHL Group started a three-year cooperation with Air France-KLM Martinair Cargo to purchase 8.7 million gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. In one of the largest SAF deals, DHL recently launched a strategic collaboration with bp and Neste to buy more than 211 million gallons through 2026.

One company alone cannot scale up sustainable aviation fuel solutions and decarbonize air transport, but DHL is committed to leading the industry toward a sustainable future. It aims to reduce all logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050.

The United Airlines’ Eco-Skies Alliance was a first-of-its-kind initiative to reduce air travel’s environmental impact. Together with other alliance members, DHL purchased the emissions reductions from 3.4 million gallons of SAF in 2021.

The purchased SAF is blended with United’s regular aviation fuel, which reduces the carbon emissions of United Airlines flights, many of which carry DHL’s customers’ cargo. In addition to working with United Airlines, the DHL Group has partnered with Air France-KLM Martinair Cargo to purchase even more SAF over the next three years.

DHL has also partnered with bp and Neste to scale up the use of biofuels. As of 2022, it ordered 211 million gallons of SAF, reduced 2 million tons of GHG emissions, saved 400,000 equivalent passenger vehicle emissions, and plans to have 1,000 equivalent flights per year powered by SAF for 12 years.