DHL Global Forwarding and CMA CGM Scale Biofuel Use to Cut Ocean Freight Emissions

The push to decarbonise global shipping is entering a more execution-driven phase. Moving beyond pilots and climate pledges, DHL Global Forwarding and CMA CGM have announced a joint biofuel initiative that brings measurable emissions reduction into mainstream ocean freight operations.

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly deploy 8,990 metric tonnes of second-generation UCOME biofuel across CMA CGM’s container fleet. This initiative is expected to avoid approximately 25,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions on a well-to-wake basis for cargo moved under DHL’s GoGreen Plus service. In a sector responsible for nearly three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the scale and operational clarity of this initiative mark an important shift.

From ambition to execution

Unlike offset-heavy approaches, the collaboration is anchored in physical fuel substitution. CMA CGM will bunker the biofuel directly across its fleet, while DHL will allocate the resulting environmental benefits to customers through its Book and Claim mechanism. This allows emissions reductions to be transparently attributed to shippers, regardless of whether their individual cargo travels on a specific biofuel-powered vessel.

For exporters, importers and logistics buyers facing increasing Scope 3 emissions scrutiny, the model removes a longstanding bottleneck. Emissions intensity can now be reduced without waiting for alternative-fuel vessels on particular routes. Compared to conventional marine fuels, biofuel-based solutions can lower emissions by up to 80 percent, offering immediate, reportable impact.

Casper Ellerbaek, Head of Global Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding, described the partnership as a move from intent to tangible outcomes, enabling customers to meet climate commitments while accelerating real decarbonisation across maritime supply chains.

Aligning GoGreen Plus and ACT+

The agreement effectively connects DHL’s GoGreen Plus programme with CMA CGM’s ACT+ low-carbon shipping solution. GoGreen Plus focuses on value chain decarbonisation through sustainable fuels and low-emission technologies, helping customers reduce indirect transport emissions.

ACT+, meanwhile, offers shippers a structured pathway to reduce well-to-wake emissions by 10, 25, 50, or up to 83 percent, primarily through the use of low-carbon fuels such as second-generation biofuels, with optional offsets where required.

Olivier Nivoix, Executive Vice President Shipping at CMA CGM Group, highlighted the role of collaboration in accelerating the energy transition. He pointed to the group’s broader decarbonisation strategy, which includes a significant reduction in carbon intensity since 2008 and sustained investment in LNG and dual-fuel vessels designed to accommodate future alternative fuels.

Why this matters for global trade and SMEs

While 25,000 tonnes of avoided emissions will not transform global shipping overnight, the broader implication is significant. The initiative demonstrates that scalable, credible biofuel deployment is no longer experimental. It is becoming part of standard ocean freight procurement, backed by transparent accounting and global fleet operations.

For SMEs engaged in international trade, this signals a shift in expectations. Low-carbon logistics options are moving from premium add-ons to baseline requirements, particularly as multinational buyers, regulators and financial institutions intensify ESG scrutiny across supply chains.

For carriers and forwarders, the message is equally clear. Decarbonisation is transitioning from brand positioning to operational discipline. Both DHL Global Forwarding and CMA CGM have indicated they will continue exploring ways to expand lower-carbon fuel usage and collaborative decarbonisation models across international supply chains.

The partnership builds on DHL’s earlier agreements, including a multi-year framework with Hapag-Lloyd to reduce Scope 3 emissions through sustainable marine fuels. Together, these developments suggest that ocean freight is entering a more practical phase of climate transition, one defined less by promises and more by execution at scale.