Commencing January 1, 2025, and spanning a half-year trial period, the Carbon Inset Programme will grant importers 50kg of CO₂e in carbon credits for each full import container that transits through DP World’s UK terminals. These credits, which are independently verified and distributed quarterly, will highlight the efforts of participating firms to mitigate indirect (Scope 3) emissions within their supply chains.

Distinguishing themselves from conventional carbon offset credits, which balance emissions through external endeavors like reforestation, inset credits signify actual emissions reductions that a company has achieved within its own supply chain.

DP World generates these inset credits through its subsidiary, Unifeeder, which progressively uses fuels with a lower carbon footprint across its shipping network in Northern Europe. These credits are then validated, aggregated, and made available to registered importers as independently certified carbon credits.

For companies, this initiative offers a clear and quantifiable method to decrease Scope 3 emissions—those generated indirectly throughout the supply chain—while also showcasing their sustainability pledges to clients.

This inset scheme expands on DP World’s acclaimed Modal Shift Programme, which curtailed emissions for its partners by over 17,000 tonnes in its inaugural year. This achievement was recognized when DP World received the ‘Transport and Mobility Project of the Year’ honor at the edie Net Zero awards in November.

John Trenchard, Vice President – Commercial & Supply Chain, DP World in the UK, said: “At DP World we are constantly exploring ways to reduce carbon emissions across our customers’ supply chains. Insetting carbon emissions is a transparent, direct and pragmatic approach with immediate measurable impact for our customers. By providing easy access to an independently certified inset programme, we aim to create better awareness and encourage the adoption of more sustainable practices. By participating in the trial, a world first, import cargo owners can actively contribute to global decarbonisation efforts while aligning with their own sustainability goals.”

If 50% of import volume participates in the trial at DP World’s UK container terminals, this could replace over 11,000 tonnes of traditional fossil fuel with lower carbon marine fuels, equivalent to the reduction of 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Christian Hoepfner, Director Group Decarbonisation at Unifeeder Group, added: “At Unifeeder, we are committed to using alternative fuels to decarbonise our logistics solutions. We are supporting DP World in the UK in their innovative Carbon Inset Programme by contributing verified GHG reductions generated on our vessels operating in Europe.”