DHL and CMA CGM accelerate decarbonisation with large-scale biofuel deployment

DHL Global Forwarding and CMA CGM Group have announced a partnership to deploy nearly 9,000 metric tons of second-generation biofuel, aiming to cut approximately 25,000 tonnes of CO₂e and enhance low-carbon shipping initiatives.

DHL Global Forwarding and the CMA CGM Group have agreed to jointly deploy 8,990 metric tons of UCOME second‑generation biofuel across CMA CGM’s fleet, a move the companies say will deliver an estimated reduction of about 25,000 metric tons...

of CO₂e on a well‑to‑wake basis for container shipments booked under DHL’s GoGreen Plus service. According to the announcement by DHL and matching statements from CMA CGM, the arrangement combines CMA CGM’s physical bunkering of sustainable marine fuel with DHL’s Book & Claim mechanism to allocate the environmental benefits to participating shippers.

“This collaboration marks another milestone in our mission towards low‑carbon supply chains,” said Casper Ellerbaek, Head of Global Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding, in a company press release. The DHL release and CMA CGM’s statement both emphasise that the partnership enables shippers using GoGreen Plus and CMA CGM’s ACT+ low‑carbon offering to integrate lower‑carbon maritime transport into their logistics operations.

UCOME is a second‑generation biofuel produced from waste and residue feedstocks; industry coverage and CMA CGM material note the fuel is intended to reduce greenhouse‑gas intensity compared with conventional marine fuels. DHL’s GoGreen Plus materials state customers may achieve reductions of up to 80% in well‑to‑wake GHG emissions by selecting sustainable marine fuel options, while CMA CGM’s ACT+ product literature says customers can reduce their shipment carbon footprint by 10%, 25%, 50% or up to 83% on a well‑to‑wake basis through low‑carbon fuels and complementary carbon offsetting.

Olivier Nivoix, Executive Vice‑President Shipping at CMA CGM Group, said the partnership “demonstrates how collaboration can accelerate the shift to low‑carbon shipping. ACT+ offers reliable and scalable solutions backed by our fleet designed for alternative fuels.” CMA CGM also reiterated its long‑stated target of Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and highlighted that, according to the company, it has reduced the carbon intensity of its shipping activities by 57% since 2008 and is investing in alternative fuels and dual‑fuel vessels.

The initiative underscores growing industry reliance on blended approaches, fuel switching, operational measures and reporting frameworks, to tackle maritime emissions, while preserving commercial continuity. Industry observers and media reports covering the deal note the practical logic of pairing a large carrier capable of bunkering low‑carbon fuels with a global freight forwarder able to market emission reductions to corporate shippers.

Both companies said they will continue exploring ways to scale low‑carbon fuel use and develop collaborative decarbonisation solutions for international supply chains. According to the press material, the current agreement is presented as a step in that longer‑term transition rather than a singular solution, reflecting wider sector commentary that second‑generation biofuels are one part of a broader, technology‑diverse pathway to net zero shipping.

Source: Noah Wire Services