DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, and UOB, a prominent bank in ASEAN, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of UOB’s international shipments. Through DHL’s GoGreen Plus service, both companies will co-invest in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for UOB’s parcel deliveries, projecting an annual reduction of approximately 200 tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e).
Launched in February 2023, DHL’s GoGreen Plus service has already enabled over 40,000 customers in the Asia Pacific region to cut their carbon emissions significantly. SAF, which can reduce lifecycle emissions by around 80% compared to traditional jet fuel, plays a critical role in this initiative, reflecting strong demand for sustainable logistics solutions.
Ken Lee, CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific, emphasized the importance of sustainability in air transportation. “DHL has a clear sustainability roadmap, and we understand our role and responsibility to make air transportation more sustainable. We are proud that UOB has selected us to be their partner to help reduce their environmental impact on their international shipping activities,” he said. Lee also highlighted the growing uptake of GoGreen Plus in the region, underscoring the readiness of shippers to embrace sustainable solutions.
UOB, which has been collaborating with DHL since 2022, onboarded the GoGreen Plus service in March 2023. This partnership aligns with UOB’s broader sustainability goals, including its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Marcus Lai, Head of Corporate Real Estate Services, Group Finance & Corporate Services at UOB, stated, “As our operations continue to expand regionally, we are committed to align our procurement activities with our sustainability strategy and objectives. UOB is the first local bank in Singapore to proactively address the emissions arising from our consignments and international shipping activities through carbon insetting, as part of reducing the footprint of our supply chain.”
The GoGreen Plus service enables UOB to effectively reduce their Scope 3 non-financed emissions using SAF. UOB will also receive monthly updates on their carbon reductions through complimentary Carbon Footprint reports and quarterly certification of emissions reduction by an independent auditor.
DHL’s commitment to sustainability is further evidenced by its strategic collaborations with bp and Neste, securing up to 800 million litres of SAF, and with World Energy, providing up to 668 million litres of SAF. These initiatives are part of DHL’s global efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
A 2023 report by Dentsu revealed that 63% of Asia Pacific consumers are increasingly aware of the impact of climate change, with expectations for brands and governments to take decisive action. The World Wide Fund for Nature’s assessment shows a significant rise in net-zero commitments among Asian banks, from 15% to 39% between 2021 and 2022, indicating a broader industry shift towards sustainability.
