The world’s first container port Carbon Inset Programme has achieved a significant milestone, registering over 100,000 TEUs of import-laden containers by cargo owners within its first two months.
Introduced by DP World in the United Kingdom in December 2024, the six-month trial began on 1 January and offers importers 50kg CO₂e of carbon credits for each loaded import container processed through DP World’s London Gateway and Southampton terminals.
This initiative supports cargo owners in reducing their indirect (Scope 3) emissions. If half of the import cargo owners participate in the programme during the trial period, it could eliminate more than 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from supply chains.
John Trenchard, Vice President – Commercial & Supply Chain, at DP World in the UK, commented: “At DP World we are committed to innovation and offering our customers transparent and pragmatic solutions that help them achieve their sustainability goals. Through our revolutionary Carbon Inset Programme, we are working with partners in the DP World group to build on what we have already achieved with our Modal Shift Programme, which reduced the carbon emissions of our customers by more than 17,000 tonnes in its first year. We have already seen a surge in sign-ups to the Carbon Inset Programme, putting this programme on the course to success.”
The carbon credits are generated by DP World’s subsidiary, Unifeeder, which utilizes progressively lower-carbon fuels in its Northern European shipping network. Independently verified and aggregated quarterly, these credits enable participating companies to demonstrate their sustainability efforts to customers and contribute to meeting environmental goals.
John Trenchard, Vice President – Commercial & Supply Chain, at DP World in the UK, added: “With DP World’s commitment to becoming the most efficient and sustainable logistics company in the UK, programmes like this will play a key role in meeting that goal, alongside our global ambition to reduce absolute emissions by 42% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050.”
