From SAF to solar: DHL’s bold steps toward net-zero by 2050
6 Jan 20264 min read
Summary
- DHL advanced low-carbon logistics by scaling sustainable aviation fuel in the U.S., adopting biofuels for ocean freight with CMA CGM, and piloting hydrogen-powered trucks, strengthening emissions reduction across its core transport modes.
- Germany led DHL’s last-mile transition, with over 35,000 electric vehicles in operation and one-third of postcodes now served by zero-emission delivery, supporting the company’s 2030 electrification targets.
- DHL expanded solar-powered warehousing in Asia, highlighted by a Thailand facility generating all its energy on-site, setting a model for energy-efficient, low-carbon logistics facilities worldwide.
Bonn, January 05, 2026: DHL Group enters 2026 with strong momentum in its global decarbonization journey. In 2025, the company advanced several key levers of its sustainability strategy, from scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to electrifying last‑mile delivery and building solar‑powered infrastructure. These achievements mark meaningful progress toward DHL’s goal of net‑zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and reinforce its role in building more sustainable, efficient, and resilient global trade. Here are five milestones that defined this progress
Advancing sustainable aviation: Largest SAF agreement in the U.S.
Air freight remains the most carbon-intensive mode of transport per ton-kilometer, and DHL has been a pioneer in adopting SAF since 2021. In 2025, DHL signed one of its largest-ever SAF agreements with Phillips 66: over 240,000 metric tons (approximately 314 million liters) of SAF over three years. Thiswill reduce lifecycle emissions by approximately 737,000 metric tons of CO2e – about the same impact as 2,400 one-way flights from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The fuel, produced in California, will primarily serve DHL’s West Coast operations.
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