DHL Global Forwarding and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) have signed a new framework agreement to further decarbonize air freight, building on their partnership established in 2022. The agreement focuses on emission reduction claims and the development of book-and-claim models to advance sustainable air freight solutions across the industry.

“This framework agreement shows what collaborative decarbonization in air freight can look like,” said Henk Venema, Executive Vice President of Global Air Freight at DHL Global Forwarding. “Emission Reduction Rights provide predictability, scalability, and transparency –  three critical factors for sustainable aviation fuels to make a real impact within the market. Together with AFKLMP, we are establishing a foundation that can serve as a model for the entire industry.

Under the new deal, DHL has secured 35,000 metric tons of CO₂e Well-to-Wheel (WTW) emission reduction rights. Moving beyond traditional sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) procurement, the collaboration emphasizes long-term strategies to accelerate SAF adoption and implement digital verification processes. The move reinforces DHL’s leadership in emission-reduced air freight.

AFKLMP has been a top-performing partner in DHL’s GoGreen Carrier Evaluation Program, participating in industry initiatives to promote transparency and scalable emission reductions. The partnership supports DHL Group’s goal to reach 30% SAF usage by 2030, enabling measurable emission reductions and establishing globally applicable market mechanisms.

“We are proud to renew this partnership with DHL Global Forwarding, a clear sign of leadership,” said GertJan Roelands, SVP Commercial at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo. “Our shared ambition and continued collaboration on SAF are fundamental to scaling the solutions needed to reduce the carbon footprint of the air freight industry. This new agreement reflects mutual trust, operational commitment, and a firm belief that only through close cooperation can we drive meaningful change across the air freight value chain.”

The framework agreement was signed at a ceremony in Amsterdam, attended by Henk Venema, Patrick Bongers, and other company representatives.

DHL’s GoGreen Plus program allows customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions by replacing fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives via a book-and-claim approach, even when shipments are not physically transported with SAF. This enables businesses to report on greenhouse gas reductions and progress toward decarbonization targets.