Sustainability in Air Freight

Rethinking the business of our industry for a carbon-neutral tomorrow.

As sustainability becomes more and more critical, businesses and logistics suppliers are looking for ways to grow their economic base and make a positive social impact with their ecological footprint. With air freight representing around 2% of all global greenhouse emissions which equal the total annual emission share of Germany. 

Following our pioneer project, we are now starting a global green network

Jochen Thewes, CEO of DB Schenker

As a company emphasizing sustainability leadership, sustainability is at the core of how we do business – day in and day out, from city to city, country to country. Beyond delivering shipments and managing supply chains when and where needed, we aim to revolutionize the air freight industry by helping our customers and transportation partners manage their sustainability efforts as well.

• Customers can choose Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for their air transport to anywhere in the world and independent of the type of aircraft or airline used. Contact us today to start decarbonising your operations.
• Via virtual allocation of the biofuel, it is possible to avoid 100 percent of CO2 emissions.
• Today, we are working with several of the world’s major cargo and passenger airlines as they look to invest in more efficient aircraft to lower emissions and minimize the overall environmental impact. At the same time, we are helping them meet customer’s ever-demanding transportation needs. 
• We are also developing fully electric utility drones capable of carrying a 200 kg (~440 lbs) payload up to 40 km (~25 miles) that considers both purpose and sustainability in its design. This crewless aircraft is designed to meet modern logistical needs with an autonomous, future-focused product. 
• Through our eSchenker and connect 4.0 online platforms, we are significantly reducing the amount of paperwork necessary, from shipment details to Customs forms. 
• We are an active member of the Sustainable Air Freight Alliance (SAFA) and the WEF platform Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition, buyer-supplier collaboration formats between shippers, freight forwarders, and air freight carriers to track and reduce carbon emissions from air freight and promote low carbon freight transport. 

With economic growth and global trade expected to double freight-related emissions by 2050, we will continue to work with our customers and transportation partners to ensure their ambitious carbon commitments become a reality.