DHL Global Forwarding and CMA CGM have agreed to jointly use 8,990 tonnes of second-generation biofuel as part of efforts to reduce emissions from container shipping, the companies announced on 22 December.

The biofuel volumes, based on used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME), are expected to deliver an estimated reduction of around 25,000 tonnes of CO₂e on a well-to-wake basis for cargo moved under DHL’s GoGreen Plus service.

Under the arrangement, CMA CGM will physically bunker the biofuel across its fleet, while the associated emissions reductions will be allocated to DHL through a book-and-claim mechanism. This approach allows the logistics group to substitute fossil fuels with lower-carbon alternatives within its network and assign the environmental benefits to customers, even when individual shipments are not carried on vessels using the biofuel.

"This collaboration marks another milestone in our mission towards low-carbon supply chains," commented Casper Ellerbaek, Head of Global Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding. "By leveraging sustainable marine fuels, we help our customers achieve their climate goals and drive real progress toward decarbonisation."

The agreement links DHL’s GoGreen Plus service with CMA CGM’s ACT+ low-carbon transport offering. DHL said customers using GoGreen Plus can reduce well-to-wake emissions by selecting sustainable fuel options, with potential reductions of up to 80% compared with conventional marine fuels.

Olivier Nivoix, Executive Vice President Shipping at CMA CGM Group, said: "Our partnership with DHL 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, committed to net zero carbon by 2050, has already cut the carbon intensity of its shipping activities by 57% since 2008 and is investing heavily in alternative fuels and dual-fuel vessels."

DHL has set a target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while CMA CGM has committed to net zero carbon by the same year.

The GoGreen Plus service allows DHL customers to reduce their indirect Scope 3 emissions arising from upstream and downstream transportation and distribution. The companies said they will continue to explore opportunities to scale up the use of lower-carbon fuels and to develop collaborative approaches to decarbonise international supply chains.

UCOME is classified as a second-generation biofuel derived from waste materials rather than food crops, and is increasingly being used as a drop-in option to reduce emissions from existing shipping fleets.