DHL Purchases 33 Million Liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

DHL Global Forwarding, the air and sea freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has signed an agreement with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) for the purchase of 33 million liters of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The cooperation is designed to last for three years and is one of the largest purchases of sustainable aviation fuel in the freight forwarding industry.

(Bonn) DHL Global Forwarding is pleased to collaborate again with AFKLMP, which has proven to be a long-standing, reliable partner and is among the leaders in the annual Green Carrier Certification program of the group. The initiative is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s sustainability roadmap, which aims to invest seven billion euros in green technologies by 2030 and aims to reduce all logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050.

“With our sustainability roadmap, we have set ambitious milestones on our path to zero emissions. Sustainable fuels play a crucial role in this. Therefore, we are committed to covering at least 30 percent of the fuel needs in air and sea freight with sustainable fuels by 2030. The partnership with AFKLMP contributes to this and is also a good example of the successful implementation of our ‘Book & Claim’ procedure, which attributes CO₂ savings within the scope 3 emissions to our customers. It is our shared responsibility to accelerate the transition to a climate-friendly, ultimately climate-neutral transport sector. We only have this one planet,” said Tim Scharwath, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight.

The collaboration between the two logistics experts is further evidence of their sustainable commitment and highlights the crucial role that SAF plays in the decarbonization of the air freight industry. As part of the partnership, DHL expects to save over 80,000 tons of carbon dioxide. On AFKLMP flights, a portion of sustainable aviation fuels is blended with conventional kerosene. The higher the share of SAF in the total fuel amount, the lower the CO₂ emissions. This way, CO₂ can be saved where it is actually emitted. DHL passes these benefits on to customers, helping them reduce their own CO₂ footprint.

“The teams at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo are very committed and feel responsible for creating a sustainable future for our industry. This cooperation offers a great opportunity to accelerate our joint sustainability efforts. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has great potential to reduce CO₂ emissions. We look forward to working together in the coming years with our strong, long-standing partner DHL Global Forwarding on the path to a more climate-friendly logistics and transport industry. When we say we need to act, that is an understatement; we need to act quickly and together,” said Adriaan den Heijer, EVP Air France KLM Cargo and Managing Director at Martinair.

Booking System Tracks Emission Reductions

DHL’s partnership with AFKLMP will proceed similarly to previous collaborations; customers benefit from the partnership through the “Book & Claim” procedure. When booking the transport service, they can choose a sustainable option. Subsequently, the corresponding scope-3 emission reduction will be credited to them. Since it is nearly impossible to physically trace sustainable aviation fuel from production to the aircraft, “Book & Claim” offers a solution to this logistical and technical problem: the procedure is a digital accounting system that tracks emission reductions thanks to sustainable fuels along the value chains and assigns them accordingly. Companies can own SAF through buying and selling without having to physically prove the fuel through the supply chain. This enables market access to SAF for companies of all sizes and locations.

Sustainability Commitment

As part of its sustainability roadmap and its Mission 2050, Deutsche Post DHL Group has established Science Based Targets and will invest seven billion euros in green solutions and environmentally friendly logistics by 2030. As a result, the group’s emissions are to be reduced to below 29 million tons. DHL aims to be a pioneer in sustainable aviation. With this goal in mind, Deutsche Post DHL Group will increase the share of sustainable aviation fuels to over 30 percent by 2030. The GoGreen corporate assessment program for carriers prefers to engage carriers with exemplary ecological balance. Air France KLM Martinair Cargo is one of DHL Global Forwarding’s key carriers and consistently ranks among the top three GoGreen carriers with top ratings each year.

Sustainability Commitment of Air France KLM

In October 2021, Air France KLM Group committed to having its CO₂ emission reduction targets evaluated by the independent SBTi reference organization to ensure they align with the Paris Climate Agreement. Air France KLM is one of the first European aviation groups to have its decarbonization progress evaluated by SBTi. This new important step in the decarbonization strategy complements the group’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Decarbonization developments at Air France KLM include: an ambitious plan to renew its aviation fleet with a new generation of aircraft that emit 20 to 25 percent less CO₂. Between 2019 and 2021, the group invested 2.5 billion euros in fleet renewal.

Achieving efficiency gains in operations by favoring additional direct flight routes and applying procedures that limit fuel consumption (lighter aircraft, “single-engine taxi” procedures, constant descent). Air France and KLM aim to become climate-neutral in ground operations by 2030.

Additionally, Air France KLM is advocating strongly across the industry and is committed to developing innovative solutions in the design and maintenance of aircraft, engines, and synthetic fuels that will gradually lead to completely CO₂-free aviation.

Photo: © DHL