DHL Introduces Green Carrier Certification for Freight Carriers

The Deutsche Post DHL Group recognizes the sustainability efforts of its partners as part of its sustainability strategy. A global certification program for road transport creates transparency for customers and reduces their CO₂ footprint. The DHL business units Express, Freight, and Supply Chain have successfully certified the first trucking companies.

(Bonn) The Deutsche Post DHL Group is launching a global DHL Green Carrier Certification to acknowledge the efforts of service partners in road transport on their journey towards greater sustainability. As part of its sustainability roadmap, the Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to below 29 million tons by 2030 and to net zero by 2050. Road transport accounts for 21 percent of total CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) emissions. In addition to electrifying the last mile and investing in alternative drive technologies and fuels within its own fleet, another important lever is the provision of sustainable transport services by the company’s service partners. By certifying its green subcontractors, the world’s leading logistics provider underscores its responsibility in sustainability and climate change while simultaneously creating the necessary transparency for its stakeholders.

“Decarbonizing trade routes and supply chains is a joint effort that must be based on transparency and cooperation. With our DHL Green Carrier Certification, we have established uniform and transparent criteria for further collaboration with our partners in road transport. This approach brings us all a step closer to the ambitious goal of truly climate-neutral transport,” says Andreas Mündel, Senior Vice President Strategy & Operation Programs at Deutsche Post DHL Group.

The visibility of emissions from transport companies is one of the biggest challenges and the key to meeting the “Science Based Targets.” To achieve this, the DHL business units Express, Freight, and Supply Chain have jointly developed a standardized program for assessing sustainability and recognizing individual partners who provide road transport services for the respective business units. This solution enables DHL to effectively manage business relationships and reduce emissions. With the Green Carrier Certification Program, subcontractors that are already contributing to sustainable logistics can be identified. At the same time, it encourages further investments in green technologies to reduce the CO₂ footprint of the group as well as its carriers and customers. In this way, DHL can not only increase transparency for all parties involved but also improve sustainability in freight transport.

Environmental and Sustainability Strategy

Transport companies should, among other things, have an environmental or sustainability strategy, measure their CO₂ footprint, and maintain transparent handling of their data. In addition to basic technologies such as low rolling resistance tires, aerodynamic improvements, and idling shutdown, leading transport companies in environmental matters should also work with modern green technologies such as sustainable fuels and alternative drives. All relevant information is collected via a dedicated online platform and controlled as part of an internal audit process. Based on the results, subcontractors are classified into four categories: “Passed,” “Good,” “Excellent,” and “Outstanding.” With the transparency achieved regarding environmental performance, more environmentally friendly offers can be made to customers, and an additional decision criterion for future tenders and awards is created.

Since the beginning of 2021, the road transport service provider DHL Freight has surveyed over 600 selected service partners from Germany, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands regarding their sustainability performance.

First Freight Carriers Certified

One of the first transport companies certified by DHL Freight is the Europe-wide road freight service provider Girteka Logistics, based in Lithuania. “We are proud to be among the first transport companies to receive this certificate. We feel encouraged to focus even more intensively on alternative drive technologies in the future,” says Pavel Kveten, COO Europe of Girteka Logistics.

The contract logistics provider DHL Supply Chain is currently rolling out the initiative via the online platform in selected countries and regions. The global rollout will follow in 2022. This will make an important contribution to successfully reducing CO₂e emissions – in addition to DHL Supply Chain’s commitment to CO₂-free warehousing and the decarbonization of its own fleet worldwide.

The international express service provider DHL Express has integrated the certification into the tender process for its land transport and has received consistently positive feedback from partner companies.

Introduced in Air and Sea Freight 10 Years Ago

In the coming months, the DHL business units will also survey and recognize service partners in other countries. DHL Global Forwarding has already implemented a “Green Carrier Certification” program for its air and sea freight business ten years ago, which seamlessly integrates into the corporate program.

The DHL Green Carrier Certification is one of many initiatives launched by the Deutsche Post DHL Group as part of its sustainability strategy. To reduce CO₂ emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, the group will invest 7 billion euros in climate-neutral logistics solutions by 2030. The sustainability roadmap includes, for example, programs for the procurement of sustainable fuels for air and sea freight, the electrification of the last mile, and the establishment of climate-neutral logistics sites and warehouses for operations.

Photo: © DHL