Sustainability has become more than just a buzzword in the logistics industry. From e-commerce to international trade, consumers and B2B partners alike are increasingly demanding greener, more responsible supply chains. This shift in expectation is pressuring businesses to reduce their environmental impact, particularly their carbon footprint from transportation.
Recognizing this need, DHL Express has pioneered an innovative solution. GoGreen Plus is a unique service designed to help your business make a tangible difference by enabling certified sustainable delivery for your international shipments.
What is GoGreen Plus?
GoGreen Plus is DHL Express's solution for businesses seeking to reduce their carbon footprint directly within their sustainable supply chain. The service achieves this by using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to power shipments, a green alternative to traditional jet fuel derived from fossil fuels.
SAF is produced from renewable sources like used cooking oil or waste, and can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% when blended with conventional fuel. The service is available for both air freight and international express shipments. What’s more, it offers flexible payment options, whether you prefer a pay-as-you-go model or a fixed-volume plan.
Also, a key distinction of GoGreen Plus is that it uses insetting rather than offsetting to achieve certified carbon reduction. Here’s how the two differ:
Carbon Insetting | Carbon Offsetting |
This is an organization's financial commitment to sustainable practices that directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions within its own value chain. For example, DHL Express uses the funds from GoGreen Plus to purchase SAF, which is directly used in its aircraft, thereby reducing emissions from the actual shipping services. | This involves investing in carbon-reduction projects that are external to a business's operations, such as reforestation or renewable energy projects. It is a way to compensate for emissions, rather than directly reducing them in your own supply chain. |
For businesses in Indonesia, opting for carbon insetting allows them to make a tangible and verifiable reduction in their own logistics emissions. Unlike offsetting, which can sometimes be criticised for “greenwashing” when companies claim sustainability by funding external projects without reducing their own emissions, insetting directly cuts carbon within your value chain. This makes your sustainability reporting more credible and transparent, while also giving you a competitive edge in global markets.
Market trends driving the need for sustainable shipping
Knowing the advantages of DHL GoGreen Plus is one thing, but to truly appreciate its value, it's important to recognize the major market trends that are making sustainable shipping a strategic imperative for all businesses.
1. Growing demand from eco-conscious consumers and business clients
Indonesian consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their purchasing decisions. A TGM Research study found that an overwhelming 98% of Indonesians are concerned about climate change, with 91% believing it will seriously impact future generations1.
The sentiment is also global, with four-fifths of consumers worldwide willing to pay more for eco-friendly products, a trend that extends from finished goods to the very shipping services used to deliver them2. Consequently, businesses are also looking for eco-friendly logistics solutions to meet this growing demand and build lasting trust.
2. Regulatory pressure and upcoming emissions targets
International agreements are also placing significant pressure on businesses to reduce their environmental impact. For instance, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its landmark Paris Agreement are driving countries to set and achieve ambitious emissions targets.
While international logistics services were not explicitly included in the initial Paris Agreement, these global climate frameworks are a major factor for countries, which in turn leads to stricter national regulations and greater accountability across supply chains. Businesses must act now to get ahead of these regulatory changes to meet the requirements for sustainable shipping.
3. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) requirements in B2B procurement
ESG factors now represent five of the top ten decision drivers in B2B procurement3. Businesses are no longer just evaluated on price and quality, but also on their commitment to environmental responsibility, ethical practices, and good governance.
A strong ESG profile, which includes a commitment to sustainable logistics, can significantly improve a business's chances of winning contracts, especially in competitive international markets. By adopting solutions like GoGreen Plus, Indonesian companies can prove their dedication to sustainability in the logistics industry and gain a significant edge.
4. Brands using sustainability as a core value proposition
Leading international brands are actively integrating sustainability into their core identity to gain a competitive advantage.
- Unilever has committed to reaching net-zero emissions for all its products by 2039 and is actively fighting deforestation within its supply chain.
- Patagonia has built its brand around environmental protection by using recycled materials in product manufacturing and donating 1% of its yearly earnings to environmental organizations.
- Panasonic has a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. At its headquarters in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan, the company also ensures that operations are easily accessible by public transit, allowing employees to reduce fuel use and commute-related emissions. This demonstrates its commitment to lowering its carbon footprint from the ground up4.
- For Indonesian businesses seeking partnerships with global brands committed to eco-friendly supply chains, demonstrating a shared commitment to these values is essential. Initiating eco-friendly delivery within your own supply chain can demonstrate that you are a serious, like-minded partner committed to supporting their sustainability goals.
How GoGreen Plus becomes a competitive advantage
The shift towards eco-friendly logistics is clearly a market necessity, and DHL GoGreen Plus can give your business a direct, tangible competitive advantage.
1. Aligning with customer values
By choosing GoGreen Plus, your business demonstrates a clear commitment to reducing carbon footprint, a value that is increasingly important to consumers and business clients in Indonesia and globally. This strategic alignment helps you win the trust of environmentally conscious customers who are actively seeking more sustainable shipping options.
In today's crowded markets, where many products are similar, a commitment to sustainability when choosing courier services can become a powerful differentiator. It helps your brand stand out and resonate with a growing demographic of buyers who want to make a positive impact with their purchases.
2. Strengthening brand reputation
Adopting an eco-friendly logistics solution like GoGreen Plus allows your company to take concrete climate action that is not just reportable but also directly impacts your own sustainable supply chain. This proactive step demonstrates to the world that your business is serious about its environmental responsibility.
As a result, you gain recognition as an environmentally responsible company and a leader in your sector. This strengthened brand reputation can also lead to greater customer loyalty and make your business a more attractive partner for other organizations seeking to align with sustainable suppliers.
3. Supporting corporate sustainability goals
For businesses with corporate sustainability targets, GoGreen Plus offers a crucial advantage. The service provides reportable carbon reductions that are directly tied to your shipping services. At the same time, this helps your company meet critical Scope 3 emissions targets—the indirect emissions from activities like transportation and distribution.
By using a solution like DHL GoGreen Plus, you can provide transparent, certified data for your sustainability reports, proving your commitment to environmentally friendly delivery services. This verifiable data is essential for communicating progress to stakeholders and ensuring your business is on track to meet its long-term environmental goals.
4. Future-proofing your business
The shift toward sustainable logistics is quickly becoming the standard. By integrating GoGreen Plus, your business gets ahead of upcoming carbon regulations and supply chain mandates that are becoming more common in international trade.
As governments worldwide implement stricter rules, having a proven eco-friendly delivery service in place ensures you won't be caught off guard. Furthermore, it improves your chances of being selected in RFPs (Requests for Proposals) from B2B clients who are increasingly prioritizing ESG criteria, making your business more resilient and competitive in the long run.
How to get started with GoGreen Plus
Getting started with a more eco-friendly delivery service is simple for businesses of any size. Whether you're a small business or a large corporation, you can choose from three flexible options.
For instance, MyDHL+ users can simply opt in during checkout for an emissions reduction of up to 30%. Also, account holders can choose between GoGreen Plus Basic for a 30% reduction or GoGreen Plus Carbon Reduced, which offers customizable emissions reductions from 10% to 100% to meet your company’s specific sustainability goals.
Open a business account today with DHL Express and take the next step toward a sustainable supply chain and a greener future.
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