CMA CGM and DHL Global Forwarding have agreed to jointly deploy nearly 9,000 tonnes of second-generation biofuel in a deal that combines the physical use of biofuels across a container fleet with a book-and-claim system that allows emissions reductions to be allocated contractually to customers.
Under the agreement, the French container line and the German freight forwarder will jointly use 8,990 tonnes of second-generation biofuel, in the form of used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME). The companies estimate this will deliver around 25,000 tonnes of well-to-wake CO2e emissions reductions linked to ocean freight moved under DHL’s GoGreen Plus service. CMA CGM will physically bunker the fuel across its fleet, while DHL will allocate the environmental benefit to customers through GoGreen Plus.
The partnership relies on a book and claim model whereby CMA CGM consumes the biofuel within its network and DHL’s customers can claim the associated emissions savings, even if their individual cargo is not carried on a vessel burning the fuel. This approach is increasingly being used by logistics providers to translate limited supplies of sustainable marine fuels into scalable commercial products.
Casper Ellerbaek, head of global ocean freight at DHL Global Forwarding, said: ‘This collaboration marks another milestone in our mission towards low-carbon supply chains. By leveraging sustainable marine fuels, we help our customers achieve their climate goals and drive real progress toward decarbonisation.’
For CMA CGM, the deal reinforces a broader strategy centred on alternative fuels and customer-facing decarbonisation products. The biofuel volumes will be offered through the group’s ACT+ programme, which allows shippers and forwarders to opt into lower-emissions transport at a higher cost. Olivier Nivoix, executive vice president shipping at CMA CGM Group, said the partnership ‘demonstrates how collaboration can accelerate the shift to low-carbon shipping’.
The container line has already reduced the carbon intensity of its shipping activities by 57% since 2008, according to the company, and is investing heavily in dual-fuel vessels and alternative fuels. Biofuels, while constrained by feedstock availability and sustainability concerns, provide a near-term option to cut emissions from existing tonnage while other solutions mature.
For DHL, GoGreen Plus is a way for customers to address Scope 3 emissions linked to transport and distribution. The service allows shippers to select sustainable marine fuel options and claim reductions of up to 80% in greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional maritime fuels, depending on the fuel pathway. The emphasis on well-to-wake accounting reflects growing scrutiny from regulators and investors over how emissions savings are calculated and reported.
