DHL Global Forwarding is joining United Airlines’ Eco-Skies Alliance programme, funding the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The DHL subsidiary is one of the programme participants and will contribute towards the purchase of 12.87m litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The SAF is blended proportionally to regular aviation fuel for United Airlines flights. The higher the share of the SAF in total, the lower the carbon emissions. The benefits of this are allocated by DHL to the customers, helping them to reduce their carbon footprint.
With the newly formed Eco-Skies Alliance programme, United Airlines aims to power future flying in a more sustainable way. The programme involves leading global corporations, that with United will purchase the emissions reductions from 12.87m litres of SAF in 2021. Together, the participating companies can eliminate approximately 31,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis, compared to the use of conventional jet fuel.
Tim Scharwath, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Freight, said, “We are very proud to take another step on our sustainability roadmap towards zero emissions. Through this partnership we will be able to show how a market mechanism for SAF can help airlines, freight forwarders, and shippers work together to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, ultimately zero carbon emissions transport sector.”
Participating in the Eco-Skies Alliance programme is a part of DHL Global Forwarding’s insetting strategy, which aims to reduce and neutralise emissions where they are emitted. The purchased amount of SAF is to be used within this year and represents a starting point in the SAF uplift at DHL Global Forwarding. DHL state it ensures the fuels are produced sustainably and do not compete with other needs, for example with food production for land use. Following strict sustainability standards, the waste-based biofuels must meet the requirements to qualify as the cleanest biofuels currently available on the market.
As part of its sustainability roadmap and Mission 2050, Deutsche Post DHL Group has made a commitment towards a Science Based Target Initiative and will invest €7bn through 2030 in clean operations to reduce its emissions to under 29m tonnes. To achieve this target, Deutsche Post DHL Group state it will increase the blend of SAF in its operations to over 30% by 2030.
By 2050, Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to reduce all logistics-related emissions to zero. Since 2007, the Group’s CO2 efficiency has improved by 35%.
Source: DPDHL Group
