How is DP World Tackling Scope 3 Across Trade Lanes?

Global volatility has proven the need for sustainable logistics, now more than ever. 

The logistics industry is responsible for nearly 24% of global CO₂ emissions, made up from road freight, maritime and air transport.

In order to tackle this, DP World is launching Insetify, a carbon inset trial aiming to reduce Scope 3 emissions. 

Addressing a sector issue

DP World is a multinational logistics company, specialising in cargo logistics, port terminal operations, maritime services and free trade zones. As a leader in end-to-end supply chain solutions, it works to ensure the future viability of global international trade.

In recent years, it has done so through various sustainability initiatives – electrifying fleets and helping customers decarbonise their supply chains through its Low Carbon Truck Programme in the UK. This programme ensured truck operators gained more access to sustainable fuel, cutting emissions and boosting efficiency at once.

Now, the company is launching Insetify, a carbon inset trial which will help reduce emissions across key European trade lanes. It is designed to help ocean freight forwarding customers in Belgium, Portugal and Sweden reduce their Scope 3 emissions – emissions which make up 70-90% of most companies' total carbon footprint, but more difficult to track and tackle as they occur indirectly throughout the supply chain.

The programme will deliver immediate and measurable reductions in Scope 3, allowing customers to better reach their net-zero goals.

How Insetify works

From April 1, customers booking ocean freight forwarding services with DP World in Belgium, Portugal and Sweden will immediately and automatically be given credits. This means that qualifying importers and exporters will receive carbon credits directly every quarter. 

The Carbon Inset Credits will make up 100kg carbon dioxide equivalent of containerised ocean freight per TEU shipped per quarter. It will be applied at no extra cost to the qualifying customers, instead, acting as a free benefit to DP World services.

The credits will be applied once a threshold of 25 TEUs per quarter is reached by the customer. A customer shipping 50 TEUs in a quarter will receive credits equal to 5,000 kg (5t CO2e) that quarter. This helps customers ship more responsibly without having to alter their strategy or spend.

 “Providing customers with multiple solutions to enable the decarbonisation of supply chains is important to DP World," explains John Trenchard, VP for Sustainable International Supply Chains, Europe at DP World.

"As part of our proactive approach to working alongside clients, we are recognising an immediate focus on inland activity and a high level of residual emissions within ocean legs. The Insetify trial allows for a pragmatic approach to managing these residual emissions as part of a longer‑term, holistic plan. I would encourage organisations to explore how carbon insets can be used as part of intentional progress.”

Proven results

The trial builds on DP World's ongoing UK-based Carbon Inset Programme, which is taking place across the ports of Southampton and London Gateway. The programme was set up in January 2025 and has registered more than 250,000 TEUs, as well as issued more than 9,000 tCO2e of Carbon Inset Credits. 

DP World's carbon insets reduce value chain emissions by using lower-carbon fuels or more efficient transport options. In doing this, customers are tackling their Scope 3 emissions and witnessing a measurable change. The programmes use carbon credits which are generated through the deployment of lower carbon fuel in DP World's subsidiary, DP World Shipping Solutions. 

“The launch of the Insetify trial will coincide with the opening of DP World’s new Stockholm and Gothenburg offices, which were recently announced as part of DP World’s landmark freight forwarding expansion into Scandinavia," announces Bojan Knightly, Country Manager Sweden, Freight Forwarding at DP World.

"Supporting DP World’s global net zero by 2050 ambition, DP World Sweden is also aiming to offer up to 25% of shipments via rail and sea in the first operational year to reduce road emissions and 100% e-documentation and online invoicing to eliminate paper processes.”

The trial is also supported by sustainability training, which means that customers can also learn more about the trial and other ways to address their supply chain emissions. By offering this guidance, DP World is helping its customers gain resilience and detailed insights into supply chain decarbonisation, allowing them to make their own changes across the value chain.