The path to achieving genuine supply chain sustainability is fraught with complexities, especially when navigating the vast and traditionally carbon-intensive domain of ocean freight. As businesses face increasing pressure to account for every emission in their value chain, the demand for practical and verifiable decarbonization solutions has never been more critical. This review delves into one such solution, evaluating whether DHL’s GoGreen Plus service offers a credible pathway for companies to reduce their environmental footprint.
The Business Case for Sustainable Shipping
This review assesses if DHL’s GoGreen Plus service, facilitated by its partnership with CMA CGM, is a worthwhile investment for businesses aiming to decarbonize their supply chains. The service directly confronts one of the most significant hurdles in corporate sustainability: the reduction of Scope 3 emissions. These indirect emissions, which occur throughout a company’s value chain, are notoriously difficult to track and mitigate, particularly within the global logistics network.
For many organizations, ocean freight represents a substantial portion of their Scope 3 footprint, yet they have historically lacked direct control over the fuel choices and operational efficiencies of their shipping partners. The GoGreen Plus service aims to bridge this gap, offering a mechanism for companies to invest in cleaner shipping practices and claim the associated environmental benefits. It examines how this service addresses the complex challenge of reducing these emissions in ocean freight, providing a tangible tool for companies committed to their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets.
How the GoGreen Plus Service Works
At the heart of the GoGreen Plus service is a strategic partnership between two industry giants, DHL Global Forwarding and the global shipping group CMA CGM. The collaboration is anchored by a significant commitment to purchase 8,990 metric tons of UCOME (Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester), a second-generation biofuel derived from waste products. This advanced biofuel serves as a direct substitute for conventional marine fuel, offering a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from production to combustion.
The service operates on an innovative “Book & Claim” model, which decouples the environmental benefit from the physical flow of goods. In this system, CMA CGM integrates the biofuel into its fleet operations, generating a pool of verified emission reductions. These reductions are then allocated to DHL’s GoGreen Plus customers, allowing them to claim the carbon savings against their own shipments. This process is managed through a transparent and audited framework, ensuring the integrity of each claimed reduction.
This unique system provides a highly flexible and accessible decarbonization solution. It allows customers to invest in sustainable shipping and claim verifiable carbon reductions for their shipments, even if their specific cargo is not on a vessel physically using the biofuel. Consequently, the benefits of cleaner fuel are not restricted by geography or specific shipping lanes, enabling a broader and more scalable impact across the global logistics network.
Assessing the Real-World Impact
The collaboration between DHL and CMA CGM is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is designed to deliver a tangible impact on carbon emissions. The initiative is projected to achieve an estimated 25,000 metric tons of CO₂e in “well-to-wake” emission reductions. This comprehensive measurement accounts for the entire lifecycle of the fuel, from its production (well) to its use in the vessel (wake), offering companies a credible and holistic figure to incorporate into their carbon footprint calculations and sustainability reports.
A key strength of the GoGreen Plus service lies in its inherent scalability and flexibility. The “Book & Claim” model circumvents the logistical challenge of ensuring every customer’s cargo is placed on a biofuel-powered vessel. Instead, it aggregates the impact of biofuel use and distributes the benefits across a wider customer base. This approach makes meaningful decarbonization accessible to businesses of all sizes, regardless of their specific shipping routes, and allows the program to expand as more sustainable fuel becomes available.
Moreover, the service directly supports the long-term sustainability ambitions of both DHL and CMA CGM, each of whom has committed to achieving Net Zero emissions. This alignment demonstrates a credible and shared vision for the future of logistics. By investing in this service, customers are not only reducing their own emissions but also contributing to an industry-wide transition toward cleaner energy, reinforcing the collective effort required to decarbonize global trade.
Key Advantages and Potential Drawbacks
The primary advantage of the GoGreen Plus service is that it provides a practical and verifiable method for reducing hard-to-abate Scope 3 emissions. It translates a complex operational change into a straightforward offering for customers, directly supporting corporate sustainability reporting and helping companies meet their climate targets. Furthermore, the service leverages industry collaboration to amplify its impact, demonstrating a powerful model for how partnerships can accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies. Its flexibility, which does not require any changes to physical shipping routes or schedules, is another significant benefit for businesses managing complex supply chains.
However, the “Book & Claim” model also presents a potential drawback. It creates an indirect link between a customer’s specific shipment and the physical use of the biofuel, which may require clear and transparent communication to stakeholders who are unfamiliar with the concept. The service’s credibility and long-term success are therefore highly dependent on the integrity and transparency of the allocation system. Ensuring that the emission reductions are accurately tracked, verified by third parties, and not double-counted is paramount to maintaining customer trust and the legitimacy of the environmental claims.
The Verdict: A Major Step for Supply Chain Decarbonization
The review finds that the DHL GoGreen Plus service, powered by its partnership with CMA CGM, is an innovative and effective solution for decarbonizing ocean freight. It stands out by successfully translating a complex operational action—the procurement and use of advanced biofuels—into a simple, customer-facing service that delivers quantifiable environmental benefits. This approach demystifies a critical aspect of sustainable logistics for shippers.
The “Book & Claim” system emerges as a key strength, providing the necessary scalability to make a meaningful impact on global logistics emissions. By removing the need for a direct physical link between a specific container and a biofuel-powered vessel, the service overcomes significant logistical hurdles and makes participation in sustainable shipping more accessible. This model is a pragmatic response to the realities of a globalized and interconnected supply chain, enabling progress where it might otherwise be stalled.
Who Should Adopt GoGreen Plus
This service is highly recommended for companies with public-facing sustainability commitments, particularly those required to report on Scope 3 GHG emissions under evolving regulatory frameworks. It is also an excellent fit for any business seeking a straightforward and immediate method to lower the environmental impact of its logistics operations without disrupting its existing supply chain. The ability to purchase verified reductions offers a clear path toward meeting internal or external climate goals.
Before full adoption, businesses should ensure the “Book & Claim” methodology aligns with their internal governance and external reporting standards. Verifying that the system meets the criteria of recognized sustainability frameworks will be a crucial due diligence step. Ultimately, this partnership represents a significant opportunity for shippers to move from being passive observers to active participants in the global transition to sustainable logistics, making a measurable contribution today.
