DHL and CMA CGM have strengthened their collaboration on low-carbon maritime transport through the use of UCOME (Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester), a second-generation biofuel produced from recycled waste cooking oil.
The initiative is expected to reduce around 25,000 metric tons of well-to-wake CO₂e emissions for ocean freight transported under DHL’s GoGreen Plus service. By integrating biofuels into maritime operations, the programme helps customers significantly lower the carbon intensity of their international supply chains.
Through DHL’s GoGreen Plus and CMA CGM’s ACT+ low-carbon transport offering, customers gain access to sustainable shipping solutions that can deliver emissions reductions of up to 80% compared with conventional marine fuels.
Under the partnership, CMA CGM will physically bunker the biofuel across its fleet, while DHL will apply a Book & Claim mechanism to allocate the resulting environmental benefits to customers. This approach allows shippers to benefit from verified emissions reductions even when their cargo is not directly transported on biofuel-powered vessels.
Both companies reaffirmed their long-term commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. DHL continues to focus on enabling low-carbon supply chains for its customers, while CMA CGM has already reduced the carbon intensity of its shipping operations by 57% since 2008, supported by ongoing investments in alternative fuels and a growing fleet of dual-fuel vessels.
Looking ahead, DHL and CMA CGM plan to scale the use of sustainable fuels further and deepen collaboration as part of broader efforts to decarbonize global supply chains and accelerate the transition to greener maritime logistics.
