DP World is launching an innovative Carbon Inset Programme at its UK logistics hubs, London Gateway and Southampton, designed to assist cargo importers in reducing their carbon emissions. The trial will begin on 1 January 2025, initially running for six months.
The Carbon Inset Programme offers a unique opportunity for importers to receive 50kg CO₂e of carbon credits for every loaded import container they move through DP World’s UK terminals. These independently certified credits will be issued quarterly, highlighting participants’ efforts to reduce indirect emissions (Scope 3) within their supply chains.
Unlike traditional carbon offset credits, which compensate for emissions through external projects such as tree planting, inset credits reflect a direct reduction in emissions within a company’s own supply chain. This innovative approach provides businesses with a transparent and measurable way to reduce their Scope 3 emissions, while demonstrating their sustainability commitment to customers.
The credits are generated by DP World’s subsidiary, Unifeeder, which implements progressively lower-carbon fuels across its Northern European shipping network. These verified credits are pooled, giving registered importers access to independently certified carbon credits, further incentivising participation in the programme.
Building on the success of DP World’s Modal Shift Programme, which reduced emissions by more than 17,000 tonnesin its first year, the Carbon Inset Programme provides immediate, measurable impact for customers. The Modal Shift Programme helped DP World win the Transport and Mobility Project of the Year at the edie Net Zero awards in November.
John Trenchard, Vice President – Commercial & Supply Chain at DP World UK, commented, “At DP World we are constantly exploring ways to reduce carbon emissions across our customers’ supply chains. Insetting carbon emissions is a transparent, direct and pragmatic approach with immediate measurable impact for our customers. By providing easy access to an independently certified inset programme, we aim to create better awareness and encourage the adoption of more sustainable practices. By participating in the trial, a world first, import cargo owners can actively contribute to global decarbonisation efforts while aligning with their own sustainability goals.”
If 50% of import volume at DP World’s UK terminals participates in the trial, it could replace over 11,000 tonnes of traditional fossil fuel with lower-carbon marine fuels, equating to a reduction of 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Christian Hoepfner, Director of Group Decarbonisation at Unifeeder, added, “At Unifeeder, we are committed to using alternative fuels to decarbonise our logistics solutions. We are supporting DP World in the UK in their innovative Carbon Inset Programme by contributing verified GHG reductions generated on our vessels operating in Europe.”
