In Germany, on September 17, DHL Global Forwarding and Henkel announced they will use sustainable marine fuel for 9,000 TEUs of ocean freight in 2025, mostly originating in Europe, in a move expected to cut well-to-wake emissions by about 4,700 metric tons of CO₂e, or roughly 85 percent compared to conventional marine fuel.
The agreement uses DHL’s Book & Claim system, which allocates the environmental benefits of waste- and residue-based fuels to customers, even if their shipments are not physically moved on vessels using the fuel. Emissions savings will be verified by third-party auditor SGS.
Henkel and DHL piloted the approach in 2024 and now say the expansion shows that large-scale, low-emission logistics is commercially viable. DHL will cover the majority of Henkel’s ocean freight volumes with sustainable marine fuel under its GoGreen Plus service.
Both companies frame the deal as part of a longer-term decarbonization strategy. DHL says the partnership sends a demand signal to the sustainable fuel market. Henkel describes the switch as a way to cut logistics emissions while accelerating broader industry adoption.
The announcement reinforces a trend toward carbon accounting systems that separate fuel use from physical shipment routes but claim real-world reductions.
More on the story
Tags: DHL, Henkel, sustainable marine fuels
Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
