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DB SCHENKER and Avolta Set Sail for Sustainability with Marine Biofuel Initiative
DB SCHENKER has started the initiative with Avolta, the leading global travel experience player, to use marine biofuel for the transport of goods.
The initiative marks the first marine biofuel contract of DB SCHENKER in the Spanish market and positions Avolta among the frontrunners in low-emission shipping.
This initiative represents the starting point for us in the transition to biofuel for ocean freight, which will contribute to decarbonizing our logistic emissions.
The Power of Biofuel
From now on, all containers that Avolta moves with DB SCHENKER from Barcelona, Spain to Miami, Florida, and Cochin, India will be shipped with lower net emissions through the application of waste-based marine biofuels and additional units of sustainable marine biofuel to achieve additional compensation of the biofuel’s upstream emissions. This biofuel switch could prevent over 150 tons of CO2e Well-to-Wake net emissions.
This initiative is possible thanks to the commitment of DB SCHENKER to purchasing marine biofuel, which it makes available to its customers around the world who wish to make use of it in their maritime transport.
The fuel used is called Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) and is based on renewable and sustainable sources, mainly waste cooking oil. The application will be guided by the Book & Claim System, a set of principles developed through a global, multi-stakeholder process with third-party validation to ensure that the use of this chain of custody model has full traceability and credibility, as well as a demonstrable climate impact.
Building on the successful launch of its first biofuel-powered container shipment to Miami in June, DB SCHENKER and Avolta, have established a second marine biofuel trade lane for all Avolta’s marine shipments to Cochin, India. This marks a pivotal moment, as it is not only Avolta’s biofuel shipment to Asia but also the company’s first container transported to India using sustainable marine biofuel. Cochin airport, known for its commitment to sustainability as the world’s first fully solar-powered airport, provides a fitting destination for this second-established marine biofuel trade lane in the DB SCHENKER and Avolta marine biofuel initiative. The cooperative work of Pablo Garcia Cupé, Avolta’s Global Transport Manager, with DB SCHENKER, has been vital in driving this initiative forward, demonstrating a clear commitment to sustainable logistics.
According to Pablo García Cupé, “starting to ship biofuel to Cochin was the next logical step given the context of this particular destination and the importance it has for the organization.
From the distribution center in Barcelona, all the teams that work day after day ensuring supply to more than 32 countries are very proud to have been able to take this new step towards a sustainable supply chain. We are sure that, with the help of collaborators like DB SCHENKER, the goal is much more achievable.” Pablo Garcia Cupé, Global Transport Manager, Avolta
With the use of this alternative fuel, DB SCHENKER advances alongside its customers in its commitment to sustainable, low-emission transport. As Miguel Ángel de la Torre, Director of Maritime Transport at DB SCHENKER Cluster Iberia, points out, "Our mission is to help, facilitate, and guide our customers in the sustainable transformation, and on this occasion, we are doing so by offering this biofuel so that they can convert their freight transport into low-emission transport. In this way, our customer Avolta is not only pioneering and helping to reduce emissions but is also ahead of the new regulations and associated benefits that will be tightened in the coming years."
A Vision for the Future
Avolta will utilize marine biofuel to significantly reduce CO2 emissions compared traditional fossil fuels. By employing a lifecycle approach, Avolta will account for the entire value chain of the biofuel, including production and transportation, to optimize its environmental impact and achieve measurable emissions reductions.
This collaboration with Avolta represents a significant step towards a more sustainable future for DB SCHENKER and the shipping industry. DB SCHENKER is committed to continuously exploring and implementing innovative solutions to minimize its environmental impact.
