DHL and Hapag-Lloyd: Accelerating Shipping Decarbonisation

It's no secret that global shipping is under pressure to decarbonise.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) warns that maritime emissions could climb by as much as 130% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.

Almost 3% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from maritime shipping, but it is also the most efficient way of transporting large quantities of goods around the globe. 

This leaves the industry between a rock and a hard place, but nonetheless, businesses are rising to the mounting pressure from regulators and consumers, working to offer cleaner logistics solutions. 

DHL Global Forwarding and Hapag-Lloyd have teamed up to do just that. 

Their joint three-year framework agreement targets Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and centres around the use of sustainable marine fuels in Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet.

In July 2025, the first order under this agreement cut 25,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent (CO2e) well-to-wake emissions, referring to the full lifecycle emissions of the fuel from production to combustion.

The fuels in question are second-generation biofuels, made from waste and residue feedstock. These non-food-based fuels avoid the land-use challenges associated with first-generation biofuels, offering a cleaner alternative to conventional marine fuels.

"The signing of this three-year framework agreement marks a crucial step toward realising our shared vision of a decarbonised shipping industry," says Casper Ellerbaek, Head of Global Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding.

"We are thrilled to partner with Hapag-Lloyd in driving the adoption of sustainable marine fuels and the book and claim mechanism, ultimately empowering our customers to achieve their climate goals."

DHL has committed to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, while Hapag-Lloyd is targeting net-zero fleet emissions by 2045.

How book and claim works

The agreement also brings the "book and claim" model into the spotlight.

The system allows emission reductions to be tracked and claimed even when the low-emission fuel isn't physically used in a customer’s specific shipment. This separates the environmental benefit from the physical delivery route, enabling wider uptake of sustainable fuels despite current supply constraints.

The model plays a vital role in encouraging early decarbonisation as biofuels remain in short supply and are often more expensive than traditional marine fuel oil. By decoupling use from impact, book and claim enables a broader range of companies to participate in reducing emissions.

"We are delighted to have completed this order with DHL, demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of using sustainable marine fuels to reduce Scope 3 emissions through our Ship Green product," adds Danny Smolders, Managing Director Global Sales at Hapag-Lloyd.

"Partnering with DHL shows how powerful collaboration can be. Together, we are creating real momentum in further decarbonizing supply chains, one bold step at a time."

Hapag-Lloyd started deploying second-generation biofuels in 2020, whilst it launched Ship Green – a lower-emission ocean transport product – in 2023, enabling customers to claim emissions reductions from biofuel blends used in its fleet.

Logistics with fewer emissions

DHL’s GoGreen Plus line plays a similar role across the company’s wider transport services. Built on the book and claim principle, GoGreen Plus helps customers reduce Scope 3 emissions tied to both upstream and downstream logistics – including road, air and sea.

These products support businesses in voluntary GHG reporting and progress against internal climate goals. Rather than offering token offsets, DHL focuses on real, measurable value chain emissions reductions.

The shared goal is consistent: push the logistics industry toward low-carbon operations – requiring collaboration, practical tools and clear reporting frameworks.

Together, DHL and Hapag-Lloyd are using sustainable fuels and transparent tracking systems to cut emissions and help customers take climate action.