DHL and Landmark Group harness sustainable aviation fuel to accelerate Middle East’s green logistics

DHL Express has really upped its game when it comes to pushing for sustainable logistics, especially in the Middle East, through a new partnership with Landmark Group, which is one of the biggest retail giants in the region. Basically, the aim is to cut down the carbon footprint of Landmark’s international air freight by incorporating DHL’s GoGreen Plus program, this scheme emphasizes the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to slash emissions quite dramatically. You see, this move lines up well with the UAE’s bold climate goals, including their National Net Zero by 2050 Strategy, and it’s part of a bigger trend among large companies to take more responsible and impactful steps towards decarbonization in their supply chains.

The formal agreement was signed at DHL’s Dubai offices, with Mahmoud Haj Hussein, the Country Manager of DHL Express UAE, and Rajesh Garg, Landmark Group’s Group CFO and Chief Sustainability Officer, putting pen to paper. What’s interesting here is that it’s a shift away from the old-style approach of just offsetting carbon emissions. Instead, GoGreen Plus aims to directly reduce emissions right at the source, by replacing typical jet fuel with SAF made from renewable sources. This approach can cut lifecycle emissions by as much as 80 percent when compared to fossil fuels, and these reductions are verified by SGS, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Haj Hussein remarked that, “This partnership shows how forward-thinking companies are leading the way toward a greener future,” emphasizing DHL’s plan to invest €7 billion worldwide by 2030 for climate-neutral logistics. Essentially, this collaboration with Landmark Group is a concrete step towards achieving measurable emission reductions. Garg supported this, highlighting that Landmark Group is clearly committed to embedding sustainability into all aspects of its operations. They’re using reliable solutions like SAF to address the tricky Scope 3 emissions, those indirect emissions from supply chains, which make up a large chunk of most companies’ carbon footprints.

Landmark Group operates over 2,200 stores across 21 countries, with a workforce that’s more than 50,000 strong. That kind of regional reach really amplifies the impact of this initiative, helping push systemic change necessary to meet both national and global climate targets. And the UAE has recently made its own ambitious climate pledge, to cut greenhouse gases by 47% below 2019 levels by 2035, so efforts like these in logistics are crucial.

DHL’s GoGreen Plus, which started in early 2023, basically gives firms the option to choose how much of their emissions they want to reduce by purchasing SAF. It fits into Deutsche Post DHL Group’s broader goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Companies like Landmark Group aren’t alone in this either; recent commitments from other major players show that sustainable logistics is becoming a real priority at the corporate level.

For example, earlier this year, DHL teamed up with Mytheresa, a high-end European e-commerce platform, which pledged to cut over 27,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over five years through SAF use. Even outside of retail, the banking giant Standard Chartered has partnered with DHL to co-invest in SAF, marking one of the first collaborations between a financial services firm and a logistics provider on this scale. These deals definitely underscore how interest in SAF is expanding across many different sectors and regions.

DHL has also been increasing its SAF usage through partnerships like the one with IAG Cargo, where they plan to add another 60 million liters of SAF, leading to a reduction of around 165,000 metric tonnes of CO₂e over roughly 18 months. Not stopping there, tech behemoth Google has jumped in on the effort, using GoGreen Plus to lower the carbon footprint of its air cargo shipments worldwide, that’s a sign of how influential sustainable logistics solutions are becoming.

Now, SAF plays a crucial part in reducing air freight emissions, which are some of the most carbon-heavy parts of global supply chains. It’s made from renewable sources like used cooking oil, food waste, and other bio-based materials, which means it’s a solid practical step towards cleaner aviation. While electric or hydrogen-powered planes aren’t quite ready for mainstream use yet, SAF offers a very real pathway to get closer to net-zero flying.

All in all, the partnership between DHL and Landmark Group really underscores how corporate responsibility, advanced technology, and supportive policies, especially in the UAE, are coming together to tackle climate challenges. The UAE’s push to position itself as a leader in climate action makes initiatives like this more important than ever, especially in a region traditionally associated with energy exports. Instead of just relying on oil, the UAE is clearly shifting towards more balanced environmental and economic policies. This collaboration not only furthers their corporate sustainability goals but also supports global efforts to limit global temperature rises and head off the worst impacts of climate change.

Of course, as climate ambitions tighten, the logistics industry’s success will depend more and more on scalable, verified solutions like GoGreen Plus. Customers and partners increasingly demand sustainable options, no surprises there, and that’s pushing the whole sector to transform at a really fast pace. And honestly, for everyone involved, that’s good news, both for the environment and for business.

Source: Noah Wire Services