After five years of a strategic partnership between transportation and logistics company DB Schenker and air freight specialist Lufthansa Cargo, both companies have saved 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide with another 10,000 tonnes expected to follow by 2020. This intention has been endorsed by the Carbon Reduction Agreement entered into by the partners last year.

“As a logistics service provider, we bear a particular responsibility when it comes to planning and implementing our emissions-intensive transports. Some 40 per cent of all direct and indirect CO2 emissions at DB Schenker result from air cargo. Therefore, it was and is important to us that we engage in environmental protection together with Lufthansa Cargo and achieve our climate protection goals”, said Andrea Dorothea Schön, who is responsible for climate protection and CO2 controlling at DB Schenker.

According to Bettina Jansen, Lufthansa Cargo’s head of environmental management, Lufthansa Cargo’s mixed freighter fleet only needs 1.89 litres of fuel on average to transport 100 kilograms a distance of 100 kilometres.

“We are putting in an enormous effort to continuously reduce our fleet’s fuel consumption. Our five new Boeing 777Fs are the most efficient freighters in their class. In addition to this, we are using particularly lightweight containers, polishing even our engine blades for maximum efficiency and driving the digitisation of air cargo documents together with our partners. We are a forerunner in many areas and innovations will facilitate even further reductions in weight and consumption.”

Schön added: “Leading air freight companies such as Lufthansa Cargo are playing a pivotal role in our improved environmental performance. Transparent emissions reporting is one key aspect. A sustainable, long-term business relationship is based on mutual trust and working in a spirit of partnership to achieve quality and environmental goals. The agreements are milestones as they allow us to incorporate sustainability aspects into business relationships.”