DHL announced its commitment to sustainable development in Asia and China extending its GOGREENrange of carbon-neutral services in China to be rolled out in the third quarter of 2008.
DHL is the first company in the express and logistics sector to set specific and quantifiableCO2 targets planning to improve its carbon efficiency by 30% by 2020. It has set strict targets inreducing emissions per package sent, tons transported and square meters of real estate usedinitially by 10 % by 2012, and by 30 % – including subcontracted services – by 2020 compared to2007 levels. In addition, DHL plans to replace 90 % of its air fleet with more fuel-efficientaircraft by 2020, Monika Wulf-Mathies, Head of Public Policy & Sustainability at Deutsche PostWorld Net, DHL’s parent company, explained at the high level conference entitled “Germany &China: Chongqing Dialogue on Urbanization” held in Chongqing, China, last month.
“Addressing climate change is an essential part of our corporate social responsibility andour sustainability vision,” Wulf-Mathies said. “As the market leader in the express and logisticsindustry, DHL will continue to connect China to the global economy while contributing toenvironmental protection by improving our energy and carbon efficiencies in the country.”
DHL plans to introduce its DHL GOGREEN EXPRESS service in 17 countries across the AsiaPacific region this year. In China, the carbon-neutral service will be rolled out in the thirdquarter of 2008. DHL GOGREEN EXPRESS is part of the GOGREEN range of carbon-neutral and low-carbonshipping options already available to DHL customers in Europe. The service was first launched inJanuary 2007 at the World Economic Forum in Davos to help the Forum achieve its carbon neutralcommitment.
With this value-added service, DHL aims to meet the demands of customers who are looking fora more environmentally-responsible shipping option and to compensate the emissions generated whentransporting customers’ shipments across the globe. Through customer payment of an additional ‘green premium’ on top of standard delivery charges, DHL calculates the carbon emissions generatedby transporting each specific customer shipment from the country of origin to destination andoffsets these emissions by reinvesting in certified carbon management programs such as alternativefuel vehicle technology, solar panels and reforestation projects.
In addition to DHL GOGREEN EXPRESS, DHL is stepping up its use of low emission and energyefficient vehicles in its pick-up and delivery services in China. DHL-Sinotrans, its China jointventure, has bought 43 delivery vans that meet the country’s most stringent emission standard,Europe IV and China IV emission standards.
Jerry Hsu, President of Greater China Area and Executive Vice President at DHL Express AsiaPacific, said: “We are very excited to bring DHL’s GoGreen Program to China, where the governmenthas placed environmental protection and emission reduction high on its agenda. As the firstinternational express and logistics company to enter the Chinese market, DHL has become an integralpart of the local community, acting as a responsible Chinese corporate citizen. Over the years, DHLhas been working together with the government, industry and customers toward sustainability.”
