DB Schenker, Avolta expand marine biofuel initiative

Building on the successful launch of its first biofuel-powered container shipment to Miami, Florida, in June, DB Schenker and travel-experience company Avolta have established a second marine biofuel trade lane for all Avolta’s marine shipments to Cochin, India.

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 due to DB Schenker 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, according to DB Schenker, is methyl ester biodiesel made from used cooking oil.

The application will be guided by the book-and-claim system, a set of principles developed through a global, multistakeholder process with third-party validation to ensure the use of this chain-of-custody model has full traceability and credibility, as well as a demonstrable climate impact.

“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,” DB Schenker stated.

Camillo Rossotto, DB Schenker’s chief public affairs and ESG officer, said, “This initiative represents the starting point for us in the transition to biofuel for ocean freight, which will contribute to decarbonizing our logistic emissions.”

According to DB Schenker, 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, the company said.

“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,” Cupé said. “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.”

Miguel Ángel de la Torre, the director of maritime transport at DB Schenker Cluster Iberia, added, “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.”