DHL Global Forwarding and Hapag-Lloyd have achieved a major milestone in their joint efforts to decarbonize supply chains. The two companies have signed a three-year framework agreement for Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions resulting from the use of sustainable marine fuels within Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet. As part of this agreement, the first order of 25,000 tons CO2e well-to-wake (WTW) emission reduction was successfully executed in July 2025. The biofuels are second-generation biofuels produced from waste and residue feedstock, demonstrating the companies’ unwavering commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“The signing of this three-year framework agreement marks a crucial step toward realizing our shared vision of a decarbonized shipping industry,” said Casper Ellerbaek, Head of Global Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding. “We are thrilled to partner with Hapag-Lloyd in driving the adoption of sustainable marine fuels and the book and claim mechanism, ultimately empowering our customers to achieve their climate goals.”
The agreement showcases the effective application of the ‘book and claim’ chain of custody mechanism, enabling customers to claim Scope 3 emission reduction for their transport separately from the physical use of the fuel. By decoupling decarbonization from the physical transportation, sustainable marine fuel enabled by book and claim is emerging as a vital tool to drive early action in the shipping industry, particularly given that the supply of sustainable marine fuels is currently limited globally and of higher cost.
“We are delighted to have completed this order with DHL, demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of using sustainable marine fuels to reduce Scope 3 emissions through our Ship Green product,” said Danny Smolders, Managing Director Global Sales at Hapag-Lloyd, adding: “Partnering with DHL shows how powerful collaboration can be. Together, we are creating real momentum in further decarbonizing supply chains, one bold step at a time.”
Both companies are committed to ambitious decarbonization targets, with Hapag-Lloyd aiming to achieve net-zero fleet emissions by 2045 and DHL striving to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Offering more sustainable logistics solutions to customers is a key lever to achieve these goals.
DHL’s GoGreen Plus products provide decarbonized solutions across DHL’s core offerings by leveraging sustainable fuels and low carbon technology. GoGreen Plus products are based on true value chain decarbonization, enabled by the ‘book & claim’ approach. GoGreen Plus allows customers to reduce their indirect Scope 3 emissions in their value chain arising from upstream and downstream transportation and distribution. It also helps customers with voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and progress against their decarbonization targets.
Hapag-Lloyd has been deploying second-generation biofuels since 2020. Since 2023, it has been offering its customers the possibility to claim the resulting emission reductions through ‘Ship Green’, its emission-reduced ocean transport product utilizing biofuel blends instead of traditional fossil marine fuel oil (MFO).
Evri, one of the UK’s largest dedicated parcel delivery companies, and DHL eCommerce, the e-commerce logistics specialist of DHL Group, have today announced a strategic transaction that will see the merger of DHL eCommerce UK with Evri. The merged Evri business will deliver over 1 billion parcels and a further 1 billion business letters annually and is poised to bring significant benefits to consumers and businesses by offering greater choice and cost competitive solutions. As part of the transaction, DHL Group will acquire a significant minority stake in Evri.
Evri’s cost-effective and flexible courier offer will be complemented with the addition of DHL eCommerce’s premium van delivery network. Rebranded Evri Premium – a network of DHL eCommerce, this will remain a dedicated and secure, separate network that will offer fast, time-sensitive deliveries with enhanced shipping security protection for high-value and large items for B2B and B2C parcel services.
The new Group will include an expanded international capability for inbound and outbound parcels to complement Evri’s own international network by making use of DHL eCommerce’s extensive expertise in cross-border parcel shipping and out-of-home network of nearly 150, 000 global access points. This includes faster transit times across the world with access to DHL’s own eCommerce network in Europe, the U.S. and selected Asian markets such as India.
Notably, Evri is entering the UK business letter market for the first time, with DHL’s UK Mail retained in the new combined Group and offering a best-in-class mail service. This will also offer e-commerce businesses more options for sending lighter-weight items. In addition, customers will benefit from the Group’s new combined out-of-home shop and locker network parcel delivery and collection which will be the UK’s largest.
Martijn de Lange, CEO of Evri, said: “We are excited that DHL eCommerce UK will merge with Evri to bring together two highly complementary UK businesses – committed to innovation and offering customers and clients the best possible service. By combining Evri’s scale, innovation and DHL eCommerce’s best-in-class premium van network, we are creating the pre-eminent parcel delivery group in the UK. Over the last decade Evri has grown ten-fold in size and this transaction will further expand our access into the European and global e-commerce markets. Since Apollo-managed funds came on board as our owners, they have backed our intent to drive forward and grow to become the UK’s premier parcel delivery business.”
Pablo Ciano, CEO of DHL eCommerce, said: “DHL eCommerce and Evri both stand for top service quality, reliability, and sustainability, which makes this partnership a great fit for our customers. Together, we’ll be able to offer more efficient, far-reaching, and innovative solutions to keep up with the fast-paced e-commerce market. By joining forces in the UK, we’re creating a one-stop shop for all our customers’ parcel needs here and giving them better delivery options from around the world.”
The service portfolio of the newly formed Group will include:
• Cost-effective and flexible courier network for next-day and standard deliveries for small and large items for retailers, businesses and consumers.
• A separate, dedicated and secure premium network for high-value and larger parcels for B2B and B2C deliveries.
• A leading SME one stop shop solution which offers everything from mail, lightweight, larger, secure, B2B, international and fulfilment services.
• The UK’s largest out-of-home network of 15,000 access points.
• Extensive international capability to complement Evri’s own international network by making use of DHL eCommerce’s expertise in cross-border parcel shipping and global out-of-home network of nearly 150,000 access points.
• The operation of a best-in-class mail service on behalf of businesses in the UK.
On completion, the combined Group, will bring together a team of over 30,000 couriers and van drivers, 12,000 colleagues, with a fleet of 8,000 vehicles to deliver over 1 billion parcels and 1 billion letters annually.
Evri Chairman and Apollo Partner Alex van Hoek, said: “This is a tremendous milestone in Evri’s journey, and we are delighted to welcome a global leader like DHL as a strategic partner and shareholder. By embracing technology and innovation, Evri has grown from strength to strength in a dynamic e-commerce market. With DHL’s complementary expertise and strong network, the business is well positioned to further improve its reliable services and the customer experience.”
Following completion, Martijn de Lange will lead the combined business in the UK, with Stu Hill, currently CEO of DHL eCommerce UK, becoming MD of Evri’s Premium DHL network business. The DHL eCommerce UK executive team will also join the new group.
Evri will continue to be majority owned by Apollo-managed funds. Completion of the transaction and the outlined partnership are contingent upon closing conditions, including customary regulatory approvals. The businesses of DHL Express, DHL Supply Chain and DHL Global Forwarding in the UK are unaffected by this transaction and will continue to operate as they do at present.
