DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo extend CO2 offer

Photo: Lufthansa Cargo

DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo will continue their fossil-free freighter flights between Frankfurt (FRA) and Shanghai (PVG).

The joint offer towards greener logistics will extend until at least October.

Lufthansa Cargo and DB Schenker have saved 31,000 tons of CO2e since starting their cooperation at the end of 2020. By utilising sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and additional compensation, the companies will save another 21,000 tons of CO2e.

The weekly flight rotation continues to be the world’s only regular full charter fully covered by SAF, said Lufthansa Cargo.

On March 25, the partners will conduct their 100th joint greenhouse gas-neutral flight. The one-way Boeing 777F flight will travel westbound from Shanghai to Frankfurt.

Ashwin Bhat, chief commercial officer at Lufthansa Cargo, said: “We are very pleased on extending our cooperation with our global partner, DB Schenker. Together we operate completely CO2-neutral flight rotations between Asia and Europe as part of our summer flight schedule. DB Schenker has already committed to using about 7,500 tons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in 2022, which is a remarkable contribution to decarbonising airfreight.”

DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo piloted the concept of a fully SAF-covered intercontinental freighter rotation between Frankfurt and Shanghai in November 2020. A regular charter connection was launched in April 2021 and extended throughout the winter flight schedule. The launch year’s customers comprise a range of global brands including Siemens Healthineers, Mercedes-Benz, ZF, Merck, Nokia and Lenovo.

For each cargo rotation from Frankfurt to Shanghai and back, the demand of 174 tons of conventional kerosene will be covered by the purchase of SAF, which will then be fed into the refuelling system at Frankfurt Airport.

This corresponds to 217,500 litres of SAF per week, which DB Schenker will use during the summer flight schedule. Thus, around 520 tons of CO2e emissions will be saved each week by SAF alone, said Lufthansa Cargo.

In addition, DB Schenker offsets a further 150 tons of CO2e emissions generated during the transport and processing of SAF through certified carbon offset projects. As a result, the freight flights are entirely CO2-neutral.

DB Schenker and its customers can include the CO2 emissions saved by using SAF in their carbon footprint on a pro rata basis.

Lufthansa Cargo and Röhlig Logistics joined forces last month to decarbonise four selected freight routes. 

In January, IT hardware firm Lenovo signed up to use the “carbon neutral” freighter service offered by DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo.

Röhlig Logistics partners with Lufthansa Cargo to cut carbon

Lufthansa Cargo drives forward paperless goal

Lufthansa Cargo joins air cargo digitalisation project

Lenovo signs up with DB Schenker and Lufthansa for SAF flights

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Rebecca Jeffrey

Rebecca Jeffrey
New to aviation journalism, I joined Air Cargo News in late 2021 as deputy editor. I previously worked for Mercator Media’s six maritime sector magazines as a reporter, heading up news for Port Strategy. Prior to this, I was editor for Recruitment International (now TALiNT International). Contact me on: [email protected]