DP World has issued the first certificates from its Carbon Inset Programme, after more than 150,000 import containers were registered since its launch in January.
The trial, which began on 1 January 2025, is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, as it rewards cargo owners with 50kg CO2e of carbon credits for every loaded import container moved through DP World’s UK terminals.
These credits help companies tackle Scope 3 emissions in their supply chains.
Originally set to run for six months, the programme has now been extended to the end of the year due to strong demand.
DP World said that, unlike offsets, which involve external projects like mangrove planting, carbon insets address emissions at the source by targeting reductions in a company’s own supply chain, for example by using cleaner fuels or more efficient transport.
DP World issued its first carbon inset certificates to cargo owners in April, covering import containers handled at DP World London Gateway and Southampton in the first three months of 2025.
John Trenchard, Vice President – Commercial & Supply Chain, DP World in the UK, said: “With 150,000 TEUs worth of registrations since January, the trial has been an undeniable success so far and its extension to the end of the year is a testament to the confidence we have that more cargo owners stand to benefit from the programme’s incentives.
“At our Southampton and London Gateway logistics hubs, we are making consistent progress towards our sustainability goals, coupling investment in all-electric container handling equipment with innovative trials like the Carbon Inset and Modal Shift programmes.”
John Hopkins, CEO of Fyffes UK, commented: “Fyffes engages with supply chain partners to deliver fresh, healthy and sustainably grown produce in a collective effort to share value and enrich the lives of people around the world. We have signed up to the innovative Carbon Inset Programme offered by DP World UK as this is an immediate and pragmatic way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain.”
DP World’s carbon inset credits are generated through its subsidiary, Unifeeder, which deploys incrementally lower-carbon fuels across its Northern European shipping network. The credits are independently verified and pooled every quarter, allowing participating companies to address their Scope 3 supply chain carbon emissions to make tangible steps towards their sustainability requirements.
The programme is part of DP World’s broader push to decarbonise its operations, including investment in all-electric equipment and modal shift initiatives in the United Kingdom. Globally, the company has committed to cutting absolute emissions by 42% by 2030.
