DHL Group is entering 2026 with renewed momentum in its push toward net‑zero emissions by 2050, after a year of expanding sustainable aviation fuel use, electrifying last‑mile delivery and adding solar‑powered infrastructure across its global network. The company said the 2025 milestones mark meaningful progress in its broader decarbonization strategy.

DHL highlighted key milestones in its decarbonization journey including advancing sustainable aviation with the largest SAF agreement in the U.S.; cutting emissions at sea with its partnership with CMA CGM; the first pilot of hydrogen trucks in the Middle East; fully electric delivery across Germany; and solar-powered warehousing in Asia.

"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," DHL said.

It added that this will 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.

With ocean freight moving most global goods, DHL said making sustainable marine fuel (SMF) is also critical for reducing emissions.

In this light, DHL and CMA CGM partnered to purchase 8,800 metric tons of UCOME second-generation biofuel, enabling an estimated 25,000 metric tons of CO₂e emissions reduction on a well-to-wake basis (covering the full lifecycle of fuel emissions) — roughly equivalent to powering a large container ship for several days of operation, which DHL said demonstrates a significant step for low-carbon maritime transport.

Hydrogen-powered trucks are also emerging as a solution for decarbonizing long-haul logistics, providing longer range than electric trucks. DHL said it has been actively testing hydrogen trucks in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, and will now introduce them in the Middle East.

Last year, DHL signed an MoU with Hyperview in Saudi Arabia to pilot hydrogen-powered trucks — a project that aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and includes a feasibility study for hydrogen infrastructure, reinforcing DHL's commitment to reduce logistics-related greenhouse gas emissions in emerging markets.

"DHL aims to electrify 66% of its last-mile fleet – the final step of getting a shipment to the end customer – by 2030, with Germany leading the charge," it said, adding that in 2025, the company announced one of its largest electric‑vehicle purchases: 2,400 new Ford electric vans for its Post & Parcel Germany division, the majority of which have already been delivered and are in operation.

It noted that this milestone means that one-third of all German postcodes will benefit from zero-GHG-emission last-mile delivery, powered by a fleet of more than 35,000 electric vehicles, including e-trikes, e-vans, and e-bikes.

Beyond operational carbon neutrality, DHL said it is exploring facilities that produce or source renewable energy on-site, combining sustainability with energy self-sufficiency.

In Thailand last year, DHL launched a solar-powered warehouse expected to generate 100% of its energy on-site through a 4.2 MWp solar array and advanced battery storage.

DHL said this facility eliminates reliance on fossil-based grid electricity and sets a blueprint for future logistics infrastructure worldwide.