Road to Net Zero by 2050 Decarbonization of DSV – Global Transport and Logistics operations

Decarbonization on Track

DSV achieved its year-on-year emission reduction target in Scope 1 and 2 and continued progressing toward its long-term goals. This was made possible, among other things, by increasing the share of electricity from renewable sources to 53%.

An important component of this success was the expansion of the fully electric truck fleet. Currently, DSV has the largest number of battery powered electric heavy vehicles (BEVs) in Europe and plans to increase this number to 2,000 vehicles by 2030.

Investments in sustainability were supported by the DSV Carbon Fee Funding Programme – a dedicated fund financed through an internal carbon tax paid by branches in each country where the operator is present. By the end of 2025, projects worth DKK 433.2 had been implemented with the support of this fund.

DSV’s sustainability efforts were positively evaluated by external auditors. In the EcoVadis certification system, the company scored 87 out of 100 points, placing it among the top 1% of companies worldwide. In the S&P Global rating for 2025, DSV achieved 63 out of 100 points, representing a 10-point increase over 12 months.

These successes were driven by changes implemented across all areas of operations, including in Poland: contract logistics, road transport, and air and sea freight forwarding.

36% Emission Reduction in One Year in Polish Warehouses

In the contract logistics segment, a 36% reduction in CO₂ emissions was achieved in just one year. Key to this result were solutions aimed at improving energy efficiency.

The use of renewable energy sources increased, both from in-house installations and from purchased energy with guarantees of origin. LED lighting has been installed in every DSV warehouse providing contract logistics services, mostly integrated with motion sensors.

Energy efficiency is also supported by automation. Some warehouses implemented remote management systems for heating and lighting, resulting in a 20% reduction in electricity consumption and a 35% reduction in gas consumption. Facilities are also introducing solutions to improve thermal insulation during loading operations. Additionally, the AutoStore system operating in Łozienica near Szczecin enables six times lower energy consumption compared to a traditional logistics center.

Sustainability efforts require appropriate knowledge, which is why education was an important part of last year’s activities. Nearly 500 DSV employees participated in sustainability training in 2025, with programs tailored to their roles.

The significant emission reductions achieved in the contract logistics segment were possible not only due to major investments but also—perhaps above all—thanks to many smaller changes. Improving insulation during loading operations or implementing waste reduction and recycling improvements are good examples of smaller initiatives that collectively contributed to measurable emission reductions. – summarizes Agnieszka Kłopotowska, Senior Sustainability Manager at DSV – Global Transport and Logistics.

Biofuels Shape the Path to Decarbonizing Sea and Air Freight

Decarbonizing maritime and air transport is a major challenge—but not an impossible one, as demonstrated by DSV’s collaboration with its clients.

Key tools in this area are alternative fuels: SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) in air freight and FAME in maritime transport. These enable emission reductions of 62–75% (SAF) and 80–90% (FAME), respectively. DSV clients can use two purchasing models: physical allocation, where biofuel is used directly for a specific shipment, or the flexible Book & Claim model, which is independent of local fuel infrastructure. Additionally, last year the offering was expanded to include transatlantic LCL connections using biofuels.

SAF and FAME are currently key tools for decarbonizing air and sea freight. With this in mind, we continuously expand our offering in this area by introducing solutions such as Book & Claim and LCL services using biofuels. We are also constantly monitoring the market for new solutions such as synthetic aviation fuels (e-SAF), which may further support decarbonization in the coming years. – says Miłosz Rulewicz, Senior Quality and Compliance Manager at DSV – Global Transport and Logistics.

At the same time, DSV is implementing optimization solutions, including a container triangulation tool. It reduces the number of inefficient, emission-intensive container movements between logistics hubs, lowering operational costs and saving time and fuel.

Additionally, emissions from office facilities in Poland supporting sea and air freight forwarding were reduced by 23% year-on-year. This was achieved by replacing all lighting with LED technology and purchasing electricity with guarantees of origin.

Electrification and HVO Are Changing Road Transport

In 2025, electric heavy-duty vehicles were added to DSV’s road fleet in Poland. These vehicles are used for last-mile deliveries in the Łódź metropolitan area, including products requiring temperature-controlled transport. They are deployed under a global contract with Volvo, representing another step in scaling DSV’s fleet electrification. This enables the development of zero-emission operations under real distribution conditions while maintaining high operational efficiency.

Last year also marked the beginning of operations using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). This type of fuel can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 90% while providing better engine performance in winter conditions. Importantly, due to its similarity to traditional diesel, HVO can be used in diesel trucks without significant modifications to engine.

Our analyses show that in the long term, decarbonization of road transport will be based on electrification. However, this requires the development of charging infrastructure, energy networks, and vehicle fleets, which is a time-consuming process. Meanwhile, emission reductions are needed now—that is why we implement solutions such as HVO and purchase only best-in-class vehicles with the lowest possible fuel consumption. – says Anna Kowalska-Zientek, Quality Director at DSV – Global Transport and Logistics.

In total, in 2025 these two implementations enabled emission reductions of 91 tons of CO₂. For comparison, this is equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of over 4,000 mature trees.

Sustainable Transport Remains a Priority

DSV’s actions—both global and local—align with business expectations.

According to a study conducted by YouGov on behalf of the think tank E3G, 55% of business leaders believe sustainability is important for their companies’ competitiveness. These declarations are reflected in real actions—the 2025 Deloitte report, based on over 2,000 organizations across 27 countries, shows that 83% increased their sustainability spending by at least 5% over the year.

Building sustainable supply chains is not only socially responsible—it is also an investment in greater security, resilience, and long-term, stable business growth, regardless of industry or sector.