Shipping and logistics leaders DHL Global Forwarding and Hapag-Lloyd have formalized a three-year framework agreement to expand the use of sustainable marine fuels (SMF) across the container line’s fleet.
The partnership focuses on utilizing second-generation biofuels, derived from waste and residue feedstocks, to deliver verifiable scope-3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions for DHL’s freight forwarding customers.
The first order under the deal, executed in July 2025, successfully achieved a 25,000-ton CO₂e well-to-wake (WTW) emission reduction, demonstrating the immediate potential of the collaboration. This initiative aligns with Hapag-Lloyd’s 2045 net-zero fleet goal and DHL’s company-wide 2050 net-zero ambition.
Book-and-claim: a scaling mechanism
A key component of the new framework is the book-and-claim accounting system. This mechanism is crucial for tackling the current global shortage and high cost of sustainable marine fuels. It separates the climate benefit of SMF from its physical use, allowing carriers to purchase and use the fuel where it is most available. At the same time, customers can claim the associated emission reductions for their climate reporting, regardless of the shipment’s physical route.
The collaboration allows DHL’s customers to access decarbonized transport solutions through its GoGreen Plus offering and Hapag-Lloyd’s Ship Green service, transforming voluntary corporate climate targets into actionable reductions in upstream logistics.
Thought leadership:
Casper Ellerbaek, Head, Global Ocean Freight, DHL Global Forwarding, highlighted the strategic importance of the accounting method.
“Sustainable marine fuel enabled by book-and-claim is one of the most effective early tools we have to drive emissions down in shipping. This framework with Hapag-Lloyd gives our customers a credible way to decarbonize supply chains today, even before large-scale availability of alternatives.”
Danny Smolders, Managing Director, Global Sales, Hapag-Lloyd, emphasized the momentum created by the partnership.
“We are delighted to have completed this order with DHL, demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of using sustainable marine fuels to reduce Scope 3 emissions through our Ship Green product. Partnerships like this create momentum across the industry.”
