DHL’s latest evaluation reveals the industry’s move from incremental efficiency gains to large-scale adoption of sustainable marine and aviation fuels, driving measurable emissions reductions and shaping the future of logistics sustainability.
DHL Global Forwarding’s 2025 GoGreen Carrier Evaluation signals a turning point in freight decarbonisation: carriers are moving beyond incremental efficiency gains to deploy low‑carbon fuels at scale, and logistics providers are embedding those choices into commercial offerings that enable shippers to meet measurable emissions targets.
According to the report by DHL Global Forwarding, the evaluation, now in its fifteenth year, continues to assess carriers across Sustainable Management, Transparency, Efficiency and Sustainable Innovation & Development. Over the past decade efficiencies have driven steady declines in emissions per tonne‑kilometre for both air and sea, but the assessment concludes that operational improvements alone will not meet climate goals. The more decisive change documented for 2025 is fuel substitution: participating ocean carriers report universal adoption of Sustainable Marine Fuel, up from 11% in 2018, while airlines’ use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel rose to 87% from 71% in 2018.
The 2025 cohort comprised 23 airlines and 14 ocean carriers. Two airlines and three maritime operators earned “Outstanding” ratings for leadership across the evaluation’s criteria, the report says. For the first time the survey included questions on Arctic navigation; respondents indicated no current plans for Arctic operations, reflecting heightened awareness of environmental risk in sensitive polar waters.
The market context confirms the shift from pilots to procurement and productisation. According to DHL press releases, the company has moved to scale SMF and SAF through commercial partnerships and customer programmes. A collaboration with CMA CGM will make available 8,990 metric tons of UCOME second‑generation biofuel, which DHL estimates will avoid roughly 25,000 tonnes CO2e under its GoGreen Plus service. An expanded agreement with Henkel covers about 9,000 TEUs of ocean freight in 2025 using SMF, with an anticipated reduction of approximately 4,700 tonnes CO2e to be verified by SGS. DHL has also signed a three‑year framework with Hapag‑Lloyd to reduce Scope 3 emissions via SMF, noting a first booked reduction of 25,000 tonnes CO2e executed in July 2025 and the use of a book‑and‑claim mechanism to allocate carbon benefits to customers.
Those commercial moves have been matched by product development. According to a DHL announcement, the GoGreen Plus portfolio was relaunched in 2026 to broaden access to decarbonised logistics; its Base product guarantees a default 10% emissions reduction for eligible shipments at a fixed rate, signalling an attempt to standardise low‑emission options for a wider set of customers. GoGreen Plus has previously been recognised by the World Economic Forum as a “Winning Solution” for reducing downstream Scope 3 emissions in road freight, an endorsement that DHL cites when positioning the service as a scalable lever for supply‑chain decarbonisation.
The assessment frames these commercial offerings as part of a broader imperative for collective accountability. The report emphasises that freight decarbonisation requires coordination across carriers, forwarders and shippers to translate supplier commitments into verifiable reductions. “Decarbonizing global transportation isn’t merely about improving efficiencies,” stated a spokesperson representing DHL Global Forwarding.”It hinges upon collaboration coupled with shared ambitions throughout entire supply chains.The results we see today demonstrate our carrier partners stepping up-they’re moving past traditional operational metrics toward real progress via sustainable fuels which will be crucial if we want achieve long-term climate goals!”
For industrial buyers and supply‑chain sustainability leads, the evaluation and accompanying announcements underline three practical takeaways. First, low‑carbon marine and aviation fuels are moving from niche trials into contracted supply, enabling Scope 3 reductions that can be claimed by shippers. Second, verification and allocation mechanisms, independent certification for fuel use and book‑and‑claim systems, are becoming standard features of commercial offerings. Third, suppliers are packaging decarbonisation as a procurement option via fixed‑rate products, which reduces complexity for customers but also requires diligence on additionality, verification and long‑term fuel availability.
As carriers scale SMF and airlines expand SAF uptake, the industry faces immediate operational and market challenges: ensuring reliable fuel supply chains, transparent third‑party verification, and coherent accounting for emissions reductions across value chains. The initiatives cited by DHL illustrate how forwarders and carriers are beginning to address those challenges through partnerships, verified transactions and customer products. For industrial decarbonisation professionals the evolving landscape means procurement strategies must increasingly incorporate fuel‑based interventions alongside efficiency measures if they are to deliver credible, measurable Scope 3 reductions.
- https://fullavantenews.com/dhl-industry-decarbonisation-assessment/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://group.dhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2025/dhl-and-cma-cgm-accelerate-decarbonization-of-ocean.html – DHL Global Forwarding and CMA CGM have agreed to jointly use 8,990 metric tons of UCOME second-generation biofuel, enabling an estimated 25,000 metric tons of CO₂e emission reduction for ocean freight under DHL’s GoGreen Plus service. This collaboration aims to significantly reduce the carbon intensity of international supply chains and accelerate the transition to alternative marine fuels. The initiative underscores both companies’ commitment to achieving net-zero emissions targets and demonstrates the effectiveness of sustainable marine fuels in decarbonizing the shipping industry.
- https://group.dhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2025/dhl-cooperates-with-henkel-to-enhance-the-use-of-sustainable-marine-fuel.html – DHL Global Forwarding and Henkel have expanded their partnership to include the use of Sustainable Marine Fuel (SMF) for Henkel’s ocean freight. The initiative covers around 9,000 TEUs of ocean freight in 2025 under DHL’s GoGreen Plus service, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 4,700 metric tons of CO₂e. This collaboration highlights both companies’ commitment to decarbonizing supply chains and supports the transition to low-carbon transport solutions. The emission reductions will be verified by an independent certification body, SGS.
- https://group.dhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2025/dhl-and-hapag-lloyd-sign-agreement-to-further-decarbonize-supply-chains.html – DHL Global Forwarding and Hapag-Lloyd have signed a three-year framework agreement to reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions through the use of sustainable marine fuels within Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet. The first order of 25,000 tons CO₂e emission reduction was successfully executed in July 2025. The agreement showcases the effective application of the ‘book and claim’ mechanism, enabling customers to claim emission reductions separately from the physical use of the fuel. Both companies are committed to ambitious decarbonization targets, with Hapag-Lloyd aiming for net-zero fleet emissions by 2045 and DHL striving for net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
- https://group.dhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2026/dhl-global-forwarding-launches-new-gogreen-plus-portfolio.html – DHL Global Forwarding has launched its new GoGreen Plus Portfolio, offering three decarbonization products to make low-emission logistics more accessible for customers worldwide. The GoGreen Plus Base product delivers a default 10% emissions reduction for all eligible shipments at a fixed flat rate. This enhancement reflects DHL Group’s commitment to driving sustainability across global logistics operations and supports the company’s overarching sustainability roadmap, including its target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and using 30% sustainable fuels by 2030.
- https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/press/press-archive/2023/dhl-express-us-launches-gogreen-plus-as-new-survey-reveals-the-importance-of-sustainability-to-smes.html – DHL Express has expanded its sustainable business services in the U.S. with the launch of GoGreen Plus, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reduce carbon emissions associated with their shipments through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This service is designed to be fully flexible, allowing shippers to tailor the CO₂e reduction they want to achieve and the amount of SAF they use. The launch follows a DHL survey revealing that 95% of SMEs consider sustainability important to their business, with nearly half believing it’s extremely important.
- https://dhl-freight-connections.com/en/business/world-economic-forum/ – DHL’s GoGreen Plus has been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a ‘Winning Solution’ within the ‘Downstream Solutions Challenge’. The program was honoured for significantly reducing downstream Scope 3 emissions in road freight transport. This recognition underscores the effectiveness of GoGreen Plus in driving systemic change towards decarbonizing supply chains and highlights DHL’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in logistics operations.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on February 22, 2026, which is recent. However, the content heavily references DHL’s 2025 GoGreen Carrier Evaluation, with specific data points from 2025. This reliance on 2025 data raises concerns about the freshness of the information presented. Additionally, the article appears to be a summary or aggregation of existing press releases and reports from DHL, which may indicate recycled content. The earliest known publication date of similar content is December 22, 2025, when DHL and CMA CGM announced their joint biofuel initiative. ([group.dhl.com](https://group.dhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2025/dhl-and-cma-cgm-accelerate-decarbonization-of-ocean.html?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article includes a direct quote attributed to a spokesperson representing DHL Global Forwarding: “Decarbonizing global transportation isn’t merely about improving efficiencies…” However, this quote cannot be independently verified through the provided sources. The absence of verifiable sources for this quote raises concerns about its authenticity and accuracy.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The article originates from Full Avante News, a niche publication. While it provides a detailed summary of DHL’s decarbonization efforts, the lack of independent verification and the reliance on DHL’s own reports and press releases diminish the overall reliability of the source. The publication’s limited reach and potential biases further reduce its credibility.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims regarding DHL’s decarbonization efforts, such as the adoption rates of Sustainable Marine Fuel (SMF) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), are plausible and align with industry trends. However, the article lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, which diminishes its overall credibility. The absence of supporting details from other reputable outlets raises concerns about the accuracy and completeness of the information presented.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article presents information primarily sourced from DHL’s own press releases and reports, with limited independent verification. The reliance on recycled content, unverified quotes, and a niche publication source diminishes the overall credibility of the piece. Editors should seek additional independent sources to confirm the claims made before considering publication.
