CMA CGM and DHL Drive Low-Carbon Ocean Freight with Biofuel Initiative

by Kash
CMA CGM and DHL Biofuel Ocean Shipping

Marseille, France | December 22, 2025 – In a major step toward sustainable global shipping, DHL Global Forwarding and CMA CGM have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the decarbonization of ocean freight. The collaboration involves the joint use of 8,990 metric tons of second-generation UCOME biofuel, which is expected to reduce approximately 25,000 metric tons of CO₂e for ocean freight transported under DHL’s GoGreen Plus service.

This initiative demonstrates how leading logistics and shipping companies are combining operational scale with innovative low-carbon solutions to meet ambitious Net Zero targets and support customers in reducing the carbon intensity of their supply chains.

Lower-Carbon Maritime Transport Through Collaboration

DHL’s GoGreen Plus and CMA CGM’s ACT+ offerings provide shippers with practical tools to integrate sustainable marine transport into their logistics operations. CMA CGM will physically bunker the biofuel across its fleet, while DHL allocates the environmental benefits to customers through its Book & Claim approach, enabling reductions even when shipments are not physically transported using the sustainable fuel.

This collaboration marks another milestone in our mission toward low-carbon supply chains,said Casper Ellerbaek, Head of Global Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding.By leveraging sustainable marine fuels, we help our customers achieve their climate goals and drive real progress toward decarbonization.

Driving Lower-Carbon Ocean Freight Solutions

Through the joint initiative:

  • Sustainable Fuel Integration: DHL customers can cut well-to-wake emissions by selecting biofuel options for their shipments.
  • Scalable Reductions: ACT+ enables emission reductions ranging from 10% to 83%, depending on the solution selected.
  • Operational Support: CMA CGM’s fleet is equipped for alternative fuels, ensuring that the environmental impact aligns with customers’ sustainability targets.

By combining biofuel use with low-carbon operational practices, DHL and CMA CGM are providing a scalable, measurable way for shippers to decarbonize ocean freight while maintaining reliability and service excellence.

Shared Ambition for Net Zero

Both companies share a commitment to Net Zero by 2050. CMA CGM has already reduced the carbon intensity of its shipping operations by 57% since 2008, investing heavily in alternative fuels and dual-fuel vessels.

Olivier Nivoix, Executive Vice President Shipping at CMA CGM Group, said “Our partnership with DHL demonstrates how collaboration can accelerate the shift to low-carbon shipping. ACT+ offers reliable and scalable solutions backed by our fleet designed for alternative fuels.”

Through continued cooperation, both companies aim to expand the use of low-carbon fuels and develop innovative approaches to decarbonize international supply chains.

About ACT+

ACT+ is CMA CGM Group’s low-carbon transport solution designed to reduce the carbon footprint of shipments on a well-to-wake basis. By leveraging second-generation biofuels and carbon offsetting, ACT+ allows shippers to lower emissions by 10%, 25%, 50%, or up to 83%, supporting a transition toward greener maritime transport.

About GoGreen Plus

DHL’s GoGreen Plus provides decarbonized solutions across its logistics services using sustainable fuels and low-carbon technologies. The Book & Claim mechanism ensures environmental benefits are allocated to customers even when shipments are not physically transported with green fuels, helping reduce Scope 3 emissions and supporting corporate climate reporting.

About CMA CGM

The CMA CGM Group, headquartered in Marseille, France, is the world’s third-largest shipping company, operating over 650 vessels and serving 420 ports across five continents, having carried over 23 million TEU containers in 2024. With a strong presence in air, land, and logistics solutions, CMA CGM employs 160,000 people globally. The company is committed to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050, actively integrating LNG and other low-carbon solutions in its fleet.

The Group’s subsidiary, CEVA Logistics, is one of the world’s top five logistics players, managing 1,000 warehouses and handling 15 million shipments in 2024. CMA CGM AIR CARGO, the Group’s air freight division, is set to operate a fleet of 6 cargo aircraft by 2025. Committed to the energy transition, the CMA CGM Group is aiming for Net Zero Carbon by 2050. Through its CMA CGM Foundation, the group has delivered 63,000 tons of humanitarian aid to 97 countries and supported over 550 educational projects worldwide.

Source CMA CGM Group

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