What the Partners Agreed
Germany based carrier Hapag Lloyd and DHL Global Forwarding have committed to a three year framework that reserves sustainable marine fuels for container voyages. Under the contract DHL purchases well to wake emission avoidance certificates representing five thousand tons of CO2 equivalent. Hapag Lloyd then schedules an equal quantity of second generation biofuel across its global service network, while DHL books the resulting Scope Three reductions for its customers.
Why the Book and Claim Method Matters
The book and claim chain of custody is more than clever accounting. It allows companies to match investments with climate goals regardless of where their boxes physically sail. That flexibility is important because sustainable fuel supply is still scarce and often located far from the cargo routes that need it most. By monetising the environmental attribute separately, shipping lines create predictable demand signals that help biofuel producers secure financing for new plants. This indirect market pull is a non obvious accelerator that traditional bunker purchasing cannot provide.
Progress Toward Net Zero
· Hapag Lloyd already blends waste based biofuel on more than two hundred sailings each month
· DHL plans to embed Ship Green certificates inside all GoGreen Plus ocean products from 2026
· Both companies are exploring synthetic e methanol trials yet continue to view verified biofuel as an immediate lever
A Customer Perspective
Early adopters report that certificates cover roughly five percent of a full container import budget, a premium many brand owners view as marketing insurance against future carbon regulation. Because the credits are issued after independent lifecycle verification, procurement teams can integrate them directly into environmental disclosures with minimal audit risk.
Conclusion
This partnership shows how collaborative procurement and smart accounting tools can shrink maritime emissions today while scaling the fuel supply of tomorrow.