Deutsche Post DHL certifies sustainable drives at partners

The Deutsche Post DHL Group has globally introduced the so-called DHL Green Carrier Certification and aims to acknowledge the efforts of subcontractors in road transport on their journey towards greater sustainability. As part of the sustainability roadmap, the group plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to below 29 million tons by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. Road transport is responsible for 21 percent of the total CO2-equivalent (CO2e) emissions.

In addition to electrifying the last mile and investing in alternative propulsion techniques and fuels within its own fleet, another important lever is offering sustainable transport services through the company's service partners. This step is said to demonstrate responsibility in sustainability while simultaneously creating the necessary transparency for its stakeholders, explained the company.

"We have created uniform and transparent criteria when it comes to further collaboration with our partners in road transport. This approach brings us all a step closer to the ambitious goal of truly climate-neutral transport," believes Andreas Mündel, Senior Vice President Strategy & Operation Programs at Deutsche Post DHL Group.

The visibility of emissions from transport companies is one of the biggest challenges and the key to fulfilling the so-called "Science-Based Targets." To achieve these, the DHL business units Express, Freight, and Supply Chain have jointly developed a standardized program to determine sustainability and to award individual partners who provide road transport services for the respective business areas.

Challenge for Service Partners

This solution is intended to enable effective management of business relationships and reduction of emissions. According to the company, the program allows the identification of subcontractors who are already contributing to sustainable logistics. At the same time, it aims to encourage further investments in green technologies to reduce the CO2 footprint of the group as well as its freight forwarders and customers. For the certificate, transport companies should, for example, have an environmental or sustainability strategy, measure their CO2 footprint, and maintain transparency with their data.

Investing in Green Technology is Rewarded

In addition to basic technologies such as low rolling resistance tires, aerodynamic improvements, and idle shutdown, leading transport companies in environmental issues should also work with modern green technologies such as sustainable fuels and alternative drives, according to the further criteria. All relevant information will be collected via a specially established online platform and controlled as part of an internal review process. Based on the results, the subcontractors are classified into four categories: "Passed," "Good," "Excellent," and "Outstanding."

Additional Criterion for Awards

With the transparency thus achieved regarding environmental performance, more environmentally friendly offers can be made to customers, and an additional decision-making criterion for future tenders and awards is created. Since the beginning of 2021, DHL Freight alone has surveyed over 600 selected service partners from Germany, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands regarding their sustainability performance.

Girteka as One of the First with Green Certificate

One of the first certified transport companies is the Lithuanian-based pan-European road freight service provider Girteka Logistics. "We feel encouraged to focus even more intensively on alternative propulsion techniques in the future," said Pavel Kveten, COO Europe of Girteka Logistics. The contract logistics provider DHL Supply Chain is currently rolling out the initiative via the online platform in selected countries and regions. The global rollout will follow in 2022. This will make an important contribution to the successful reduction of CO2e emissions, alongside the commitment of DHL Supply Chain to CO2-free warehousing and the decarbonization of its own fleet worldwide, the company is confident.

Broadly Rolled-Out Program

The DHL Express division has integrated certification into the bidding process for its land transports and has received consistently positive feedback from partner companies, according to the company. The DHL business units also plan to survey and award service partners in other countries in the coming months. DHL Global Forwarding had already implemented a "Green Carrier Certification" program for its air and sea freight business ten years ago, seamlessly fitting into the group program.

To reduce CO2 emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, the group will invest 7 billion euros in climate-neutral logistics solutions by 2030. The sustainability roadmap includes, for example, programs for the acquisition of sustainable fuels for air and sea freight, the electrification of the last delivery mile, and the establishment of climate-neutral logistics locations and warehouses for operations, the company further stated.