DSV Panalpina to reduce 40% greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

As one of the first companies in the logistics industry, DSV Panalpina is now specifying how much and how quickly it needs to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of the Science Based Targets initiative.

In November 2019, DSV Panalpina announced that it was committing to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and that the company would develop science-based targets for reducing its carbon footprint. They are now revealing their ambitions.

DSV Panalpina commits to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 40 percent by 2030 from a 2019 base year. DSV Panalpina also commits to reducing absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 30 percent over the same target period. Scope 1 and 2 refer to emissions from e.g. offices, warehouses and company cars, while scope 3 refers to emissions from subcontracted freight transports.

In 2019, the Group’s total emissions amounted to 16 million tonnes CO2e of which the largest part was related to subcontracted freight transport. This means they must work closely with their subcontractors – shipping lines, airlines and trucking companies – in order to reach their targets.

Jens Bjørn Andersen, CEO, DSV said, “With these ambitious targets, we set a clear direction for our sustainability efforts for years to come. We intend to lead the way in our industry, and we know it will require a committed effort from the whole DSV Panalpina organisation to achieve our targets, but failure is not an option. We have a steadfast belief that sustainability and long-term business viability go hand in hand.”

Lindsay Zingg, senior director - sustainability, said, “When DSV and Panalpina joined forces in 2019, we decided to continue the commitment that Panalpina had to the Science Based Targets initiative. The fact that we in less than 6 months have been able to collect all the data from both companies in the middle of an integration process, develop ambitious targets and have them approved by the Science Based Targets initiative speaks volumes about our commitment to this initiative.”

To drive down emissions, DSV Panalpina engages in initiatives such as the sustainable fuel partnership that was announced on 26 May 2020, which aims to develop industrial-scale production of sustainable fuels for road, maritime and air transport by 2030.

The company already works closely with its suppliers and customers to implement smarter solutions and to choose greener options when economically feasible. Customers are offered services to optimise their supply chains in terms of cost and sustainability, including consolidating freight and optimising choices of transport modes, routes, and packaging to name a few areas.

The ambitious targets set a clear direction for the company’s sustainability efforts, and DSV Panalpina is now working on the roadmap for the next steps of the journey.