DP World has initiated a carbon reduction programme to help cargo importers reduce emissions.
- The trial will begin in January 2025 and run for six months at two UK logistics hubs.
- Importers will earn carbon credits for using DP World’s terminals, aiming for a comprehensive emissions reduction.
- The credits encourage supply chain improvements and are certified independently.
- Participating in the programme supports global decarbonisation efforts and aligns with sustainability goals.
DP World is testing a new carbon reduction programme at key UK logistics locations, specifically at the London Gateway and Southampton ports. The initiative will commence on the 1st of January 2025 and is set for an initial six-month trial period.
During this period, a new Carbon Inset Programme will see cargo importers rewarded with 50kg of CO₂e credits for each loaded import container moved through DP World’s terminals. These credits differ from typical carbon offsets as they reflect verifiable reductions made within the importers’ own supply chains.
DP World clarified this by stating that ‘inset credits’ represent actual emission reductions within a company’s operations, as opposed to ‘offset credits’ which typically account for emission reductions from external projects, like afforestation.
These inset credits will be produced by Unifeeder, a DP World subsidiary, which employs low-carbon fuels throughout its Northern European shipping routes. Registered importers can access these pooled and verified credits, which are independently certified, offering a clear and measurable way to reduce Scope 3 emissions—those indirectly generated through supply chain activities.
The carbon inset programme builds upon DP World’s earlier Modal Shift Programme, which reportedly helped partners cut emissions by over 17,000 tonnes during its inaugural year. According to John Trenchard, DP World’s VP of Commercial & Supply Chain in the UK, insetting provides ‘a transparent, direct and pragmatic approach with immediate measurable impact for our customers.’
Participants in this programme, described as a world-first initiative by DP World, not only contribute towards global decarbonisation but also enhance their own sustainable practices. If half of the import volume through DP World’s terminals engages with the trial, there is potential to switch more than 11,000 tonnes of traditional fossil fuel to lower-carbon marine fuel, equating to a reduction of 10,000 tonnes of CO₂.
This programme marks a significant step forward in integrating sustainable practices within the supply chain industry.
