Mercedes-Benz has placed the largest single-volume order for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from DB Schenker, marking a significant step in reducing its carbon footprint.
The agreement, which involves the procurement of approximately 13,000 tons of SAF, will help the German automotive company’s cut CO2 emissions by 40,000 tons. The biofuel will be used for export air freight shipments from Frankfurt, Germany to Beijing and Shanghai in China.
DB Schenker and Mercedes-Benz have maintained a long-standing partnership, collaborating across multiple transport modes, including land, air, ocean, and warehouse management. Mercedes-Benz was also one of the first customers when DB Schenker launched the world’s first regular cargo flight powered by SAF in 2021.
Thorsten Meincke, Global Board Member for Air & Ocean Freight at DB Schenker, stated: “Achieving carbon neutrality is a long-haul journey. Our new biofuel agreement with our trusted partner Mercedes-Benz sets a new benchmark for sustainability commitments. By working together, we are actively and immediately reducing emissions in intercontinental supply chains. This contract represents one of the largest-ever SAF deals in the entire automotive and logistics industries globally.”
While SAF alone cannot eliminate emissions from air travel, it represents a viable alternative and a crucial step toward reducing aviation’s environmental impact. Made from waste materials such as used cooking oil, SAF can cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.
Elke Pusskeiler, Head of Supply Chain Management at Mercedes-Benz AG, commented: “As part of our ‘Ambition 2039’ for Mercedes-Benz Cars, we aim to reduce CO2 emissions in logistics by 60% compared to 2021. Our sustainability strategy focuses on CO2 avoidance and the reduction of emissions for all modes of transport in inbound and outbound. Utilizing Sustainable Aviation Fuel for air freight allows us to cut emissions. Together with DB Schenker, we made another significant achievement in our efforts for sustainable logistics.”
