Sustainability Knowledge Hub

Insights and Resources on Sustainable Logistics

Want to learn more about sustainable logistics? We’ve provided everything you need to know to get started – from industry terminology to information on the latest decarbonization technologies.

Our Sustainability Knowledge Hub features curated content from a range of trusted sources, including our own platforms and external sites. Follow the links below to find relevant information for your business, so you can take the next step on your sustainability journey with confidence.

Sustainability Terms and Definitions

The development of sustainable logistics has brought with it many new terms and phrases. We’ve put together a helpful glossary so you can familiarize yourself with the latest terminology and what it means.

Sustainability Glossary

Basic Terms and Definitions (English)

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Direct Substitution, Book & Claim and Offsetting

Understand the difference (English)

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Scope 1, 2, 3

Scopes and emissions explained

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Sustainability Reporting

Sustainability reporting is crucial in driving positive change. By openly tracking, evaluating and improving your carbon footprint, your business can demonstrate how it’s helping to create a more sustainable future.

Carbon Emission Reporting Frameworks

Tracking your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be a challenge, especially when customers, countries and programs all require different reporting formats. To help create a universal way of calculating logistics emissions, the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) established the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC). The GLEC reporting framework supports you to:

Start reporting
Improve data quality
Drive action

Learn more (English)

DHL Carbon Calculator

This innovative tool simplifies estimating and evaluating your GHG emissions across various transport scenarios. It enables you to quickly calculate the GHG emissions for shipments across Air, Ocean, Road, Rail, Barge and Multimodal transport on a given trade lane.

You can use the Carbon Calculator to:

Calculate the GHG emissions of single shipments
Easily compare different shipment scenarios
Evaluate CO₂e emissions for all transport legs

Try the Carbon Calculator (English)

Setting Sustainability Targets

Setting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets is key to helping you drive down logistics emissions. Clear goals show your commitment to sustainability and can benefit both the environment and your business.

Get Started with the Sustainable Logistics Guidebook

It can be difficult to know where to start on your sustainability journey. With our step-by-step guidebook, you can find out more about the different options available and evaluate what could work for your business.

Start minimizing your transport emissions and decarbonizing your logistics operations by:

Calculating your carbon footprint
Setting your GHG reduction targets
Identifying your carbon reduction levers
Selecting and evaluating your key trade lanes
Choosing and implementing solutions

Get the guide here

Why are Science-Based Targets Important?

Science-based targets are in line with scientific requirements to help limit global warming. Discover 10 reasons why your business should set a science-based target.

Download here (English)

Join the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

Many organisations have set science-based targets to help reduce their CO₂e emissions in line with the UN Paris Agreement. Learn more about how your business can join them below.

Learn how to join the SBTi (English)

DHL Interview on the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

Kathrin Brost, VP Global Head of DGF’s GoGreen Program and Noelle Froehlich, Senior Expert Clean Operations, DHL discuss what the SBTi means for DHL and DHL Global Forwarding.

Read the full interview here (English)

Exploring Sustainable Fuels

Sustainable fuels have an important part to play in the future of logistics. Made from renewable resources, these fuels only release CO₂ during combustion that has been absorbed from the air during production. This creates a closed carbon cycle.

Read more about how switching to sustainable fuels can effectively reduce CO₂e emissions.

Switching to Sustainable Fuels

Watch to discover how switching to sustainable fuels helps to reduce CO₂ emissions

Decarbonizing Aviation

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) offers a viable, cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Find out how SAF is making a difference in reducing aviation emissions.

‘Book and Claim’ Explained

The supply of sustainable aviation fuels is on the rise, but how can shippers buy them? The answer is an accounting mechanism called 'book and claim.'

Biofuels: On Track to Bridge the Gap (English)

Until heavy-duty trucks powered by electricity or hydrogen are more widely available, sustainable biofuels can support us to reduce long-haul transport emissions in the meantime. Discover the benefits of biofuels.

Sustainable Packaging and Circularity

Packaging waste is a major environmental issue. To limit the environmental impact of single-use packaging, we’re striving to use less and alternative material and working on reusable packaging solutions.

Delivering on Circularity (English)

Circularity focuses on the 5Rs – reducing, repairing, reselling, refurbishing and recycling. Learn how the circular model is key to making global production and consumption more sustainable.

Sustainable Packaging for E-commerce (English)

Recent e-commerce spikes led to global shortages of cardboard and packaging materials. Discover how sustainable packaging solutions can help online retailers meet demand.

Latest Technology

The development of decarbonization technologies and sustainable fuels is moving at a significant pace. Follow the links below to read up on the latest advancements in low-emission logistics.

E-cargo Planes (English)

DHL invests in first fully electric cargo aircraft

Carbon Accounting (English)

How carbon accounting methods can help reduce your carbon footprint

Hydrogen-Powered Trucks (English)

Are hydrogen-powered trucks the future for road transport?

Carbon Neutral Buildings (English)

What does it take to make a carbon neutral warehouse?

Sustainable Technology in Action

From sea to sky, discover how the latest decarbonization technologies have the potential to drive down emissions across the logistics sector.

Transition to Cleaner Ocean Freight

Learn how you can reduce the carbon footprint of your ocean freight shipments with a sustainable fuel switch.

Sustainable Building Technologies

Your path to net-zero based on sustainable building technologies.

The Future of Aviation is Electric

Meet Alice – the first-ever electric cargo plane – and discover how an aviation vision is becoming a sustainable reality.

Going Fossil-Free for Longer Distances

Learn how DHL Freight and Volvo teamed up to put a heavy-duty electric truck on the road in Sweden.

Discover More about the Latest Sustainability Technology

Sustainable Fuels

Over the next two decades, sustainable fuels will play a critical role in reducing the impact of transport emissions on the climate. From e-fuels to hydrogen cells, discover more on sustainable fuels for logistics.

Read the whitepaper (English)

Sustainable Road Transport

As road transportation is the largest contributor of supply chain emissions globally, it’s vital that businesses explore the latest sustainable alternatives.

Download more information (English)

Sustainable Warehousing and Buildings

Warehousing is a crucial piece of the puzzle when reducing your overall carbon footprint. Explore the latest technologies making carbon neutral warehousing possible.

Download more information (English)

The Era of Sustainable Logistics

Supply chains play a vital role in the journey towards sustainability: a change that is pivotal for humanity, our planet, and businesses. Our Era of Sustainable Logistics platform aims to bring together decision-makers, thought leaders and stakeholders for the development of more sustainable logistics: decarbonizing supply chains by using sustainable fuels and alternative technologies, implantation of circular solutions, leveraging digitalization, and deploying renewable energy and mobility solutions.