• DHL Global Forwarding signs 35,000 tonnes of well to wheel CO2e emission reduction rights under a new long term framework agreement
• Partnership advances book and claim models to scale sustainable aviation fuel use beyond physical trade lane constraints
• Agreement supports DHL Group’s target to reach 30 percent sustainable aviation fuel use by 2030

DHL Global Forwarding and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo have expanded their partnership with a new framework agreement aimed at accelerating decarbonization across the air freight sector, shifting the focus from transactional fuel purchases to structured, verifiable emission reduction rights.

The agreement builds on a collaboration launched in 2022 and introduces a clearer commercial and governance framework for emission reduction claims. Central to the deal is the development of market ready book and claim models designed to scale sustainable aviation fuel adoption while providing transparency and credibility for corporate climate reporting.

Moving Beyond Transactional SAF Procurement

Under the new framework, DHL Global Forwarding has signed a work order covering 35,000 metric tons of well to wheel CO2e emission reduction rights. The approach reflects a broader shift in how large logistics players are addressing aviation emissions, particularly in a market where physical access to sustainable aviation fuels remains uneven across routes and regions.

Rather than tying emission reductions solely to where fuel is physically uplifted, book and claim mechanisms allow environmental benefits to be allocated independently of specific flights. This structure is increasingly viewed as essential for scaling SAF in the near term, especially for multinational shippers with complex global networks.

“This framework agreement shows what collaborative decarbonization in air freight can look like,” said Henk Venema, Executive Vice President of Global Air Freight at DHL Global Forwarding. “Emission Reduction Rights provide predictability, scalability, and transparency, three critical factors for sustainable aviation fuels to make a real impact within the market. Together with AFKLMP, we are establishing a foundation that can serve as a model for the entire industry.”

A Strategic Carrier Relationship

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has been one of DHL Global Forwarding’s leading carriers for the past five years and a top performer in DHL’s GoGreen Carrier Evaluation Program. The airline group has also been an active participant in industry initiatives, conferences, and working groups focused on transparency, standard setting, and practical pathways for reducing air freight emissions.

The renewed agreement formalizes a long term collaboration that extends beyond fuel sourcing to include digital verification processes and standardized emissions accounting. For DHL, this strengthens its position as a provider of emission reduced air freight products for customers facing rising regulatory and investor scrutiny of Scope 3 emissions.

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“We are proud to renew this partnership with DHL Global Forwarding, a clear sign of leadership,” said GertJan Roelands, SVP Commercial at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo. “Our shared ambition and continued collaboration on SAF are fundamental to scaling the solutions needed to reduce the carbon footprint of the air freight industry. This new agreement reflects mutual trust, operational commitment, and a firm belief that only through close cooperation can we drive meaningful change across the air freight value chain.”

Governance, Reporting, And Scope 3 Pressures

The agreement comes as companies face growing pressure to demonstrate credible progress on indirect emissions, particularly from transportation and logistics. Book and claim systems are gaining attention from regulators, standards bodies, and corporate buyers as a pragmatic interim solution while global SAF supply ramps up.

DHL’s GoGreen Plus products sit at the center of this strategy. The offering enables true value chain decarbonization by replacing fossil fuels with sustainable fuels within DHL’s network and allocating the resulting environmental benefits to customers, even when shipments are not physically moved on low carbon assets.

This allows DHL customers to reduce reported Scope 3 emissions from upstream and downstream transportation and distribution, while supporting voluntary greenhouse gas reporting and progress tracking against decarbonization targets.

Implications For The Global Air Freight Market

The DHL AFKLMP framework agreement aligns with DHL Group’s broader goal to raise sustainable aviation fuel use to 30 percent by 2030. By anchoring SAF deployment in long term contracts and standardized emission reduction rights, the partnership aims to provide the scale and predictability needed to attract further investment into low carbon aviation fuels.

The agreement was formally marked at a ceremony in Amsterdam attended by senior executives from both companies, including Venema and Patrick Bongers, Head of AFR Growth at DHL Global Forwarding.

For the wider air freight industry, the deal reflects a shift toward collaborative, system level solutions that address both physical fuel constraints and the governance challenges of emissions accounting. As regulators and customers demand clearer evidence of climate impact, frameworks that combine operational commitment with credible verification are likely to play a growing role in how aviation decarbonization is financed and delivered globally.

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