DP World has announced a fivefold expansion of its Carbon Inset Programme, significantly increasing the availability of credits designed to help importers reduce Scope 3 emissions from their containerised supply chains, particularly those linked to port calls.
From 1 October 2025, every loaded container imported through DP World’s London Gateway and Southampton terminals will qualify for 250kg CO2e credits, up from the 50kg CO2e initially offered when the scheme was launched in January.
The initiative was introduced as a pilot earlier this year and has already attracted registrations covering more than 200,000 TEUs. Its success has prompted the company to extend the scheme until 31 December 2025 and broaden its scope to include emissions generated across the entire port call, such as those from tug and pilot boats.
The increase in credits has been made possible by the adoption of lower-carbon fuels by Unifeeder, DP World’s shortsea operator, and tug operator Svitzer, under what the companies describe as a ‘world-first’ partnership to use lower-carbon fuels in tug operations and feeder shipping. According to DP World, this approach allows cargo owners to demonstrate measurable reductions in the carbon intensity of their established logistics chains, while addressing emissions over the ‘last nautical mile’ of a ship’s arrival.
John Trenchard, Vice President for Sustainable International Supply Chains at DP World, said: ‘The strong interest in our Carbon Inset Programme since its launch in January shows that our customers are looking for practical, tangible ways to decarbonise their supply chains. Expanding the programme allows more cargo owners to immediately benefit from emissions reductions within their logistics operations.’
Ekaterina Riegels Hjorth, Head of Decarbonisation at Svitzer, commented: ‘We’re proud to team up with DP World to expand the Carbon Inset Programme to the “last nautical mile”. This initiative demonstrates what’s possible when partners across the port ecosystem unite around a shared ambition to deliver real, scalable emissions reductions.’
The expansion of the Carbon Inset Programme builds on DP World’s wider decarbonisation strategy, which includes its Modal Shift Programme and efforts to transition Southampton into the UK’s first operationally net zero container terminal. The company’s sustainability drive was recognised at the 2025 Multimodal Awards, where it was named Sustainability Company of the Year.
