Logistics giant Deutsche Post DHL Group’s air and ocean freight business DHL Global Forwarding announced today an agreement to acquire 33 million liters of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP), marking one of the most significant SAF purchases to date in the Freight Forwarding industry.
According to DHL, the agreement is expected to result in over 80,000 tons of carbon emissions savings.
The agreement follows the launch in 2020 by AFKLMP of a program enabling shippers and forwarders to operate flights with a percentage of SAF, with customers determining their own level of engagement and AFKLMP ensuring that customers’ investments are used for sourcing SAF.
Adriaan den Heijer, EVP Air France KLM Cargo and Managing Director Martinair, said:
“The Air France KLM Martinair Cargo teams are strongly committed and feel responsible for creating a sustainable future for our industry. This deal is a great opportunity to accelerate our joint sustainability efforts. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has a lot of potential to reduce CO2 emissions and we are delighted to collaborate with our strong, long-term partner DHL Global Forwarding on this journey to greener logistics and transportation in the coming years.”
DHL enables customers to select a sustainable option when purchasing a services through the company’s recently implemented ‘book and claim’ system, with related Scope 3 emissions reductions credited to their account using a digital accounting system to track and transfer emissions reductions from sustainable fuels. The system enables companies to buy SAF without physically tracing the fuel through the supply chain.
Sustainable aviation fuels are one of the key tools highlighted by DHL to enable the company to achieve its emissions reduction goals under its Sustainability Roadmap. Launched last year, the roadmap includes a series of decarbonization and environmental sustainability commitments encompassing the introduction of more ambitious climate targets and linking executive compensation to ESG goals. DHL’s targets include meeting at least 30% of fuel requirements in aviation and line haul with sustainable fuels for long haul flights. Since launching the roadmap, DHL has announced several low carbon transport initiatives, including sustainable aviation fuel programs, ordering all-electric cargo planes, offering decarbonized ocean shipping and carbon neutral US domestic delivery options.
Tim Scharwath, CEO DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, said:
“With our Sustainability Roadmap, we have set ourselves ambitious goals on our journey towards zero emissions. Sustainable fuels are a fundamental part of our efforts. That is why we have committed to covering at least 30 percent of air freight and ocean freight fuel requirements with sustainable fuels by 2030. Our partnership with AFKLMP will help us achieve that goal. At the same time, it serves as another example of the success of our ‘book & claim’ system, which ensures that reductions in Scope 3 emissions are attributed to our customers. We must all work together to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon – and ultimately zero-carbon – emissions transport sector. After all, we only have one planet.
