DP World Carbon Inset Programme Trial
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DP WORLD CARBON INSET PROGRAMME TRIAL

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ABOUT THE CARBON INSET PROGRAMME

DP World UK has launched an innovative Carbon Inset Programme Trial to help importers reduce hard-to-abate Scope 3 emissions from their containerised supply chains. Initially set for six months from 1 January 2025, the programme has been extended to run for 12 months until 31 December 2025 due to its strong uptake and success.

Building on the programme’s early success, which has seen over 200,000 TEUs worth of registrations since January this year, from 1 October 2025, importers moving cargo through DP World UK ports at Southampton and London Gateway who have registered for the programme, will now qualify for 250kg CO₂e carbon inset credits for every import-laden container, up from the original 50kg CO₂e at launch.

Carbon Inset Lane 250kgs 4AUG2025

REDUCING SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS

The carbon inset credits are designed to help customers demonstrate measurable improvements in the carbon intensity of marine fuel consumption within their supply chains. These additional new carbon credits address the emissions associated with the entire port call of container ships when manoeuvring into London Gateway or Southampton over their ‘last nautical mile’, including the emissions of the tug and pilot boats.

These additional credits are enabled by the use of incrementally lower carbon fuels by both DP World’s subsidiary Unifeeder, across its Northern European shipping network, and Svitzer, under a world-first partnership that will see its tug boats in the UK transition to these fuels.

If 30% of the annual import volume at DP World’s UK ports participates in the programme, it is estimated that up to 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced annually through the replacement of traditional fossil fuels with lower-carbon marine alternatives.

Programme Expansion & New Partnerships

As part of our ongoing commitment to reducing emissions across the supply chain, DP World UK has expanded the scope of its Carbon Inset Programme to include emissions associated with tug and pilot boat operations. This expansion highlights our continued commitment to making the port call process more sustainable and reducing the environmental impact of cargo arriving at DP World’s UK terminals.

DP World has partnered with Svitzer Ltd – an AP Moller Holding company, is a leading global marine services company, serving approximately 2,000 customers in 141 ports and 40 terminals across 37 countries. By working together this will enable Svitzer totransition to lower carbon fuels in the UK. Tug boats are essential to assist in manoeuvring container ships into London Gateway and Southampton, and their inclusion in the programme creates the world’s first Carbon Inset Lanes for the ‘last nautical mile’.

This expansion builds on the strong momentum of the programme, driven by growing demand from importers seeking practical, tangible, and pragmatic ways to decarbonise their supply chains.

Svitzer_Southampton

HOW THE PROGRAMME WORKS

Carbon insets generated via Unifeeder are tracked via its GreenBox platform, while Svitzer utilises the 123Carbon platform for the same purpose. Both platforms record the deployment of lower-carbon fuels and generates tokens for each tonne of CO₂ saved. These tokens are managed independently through the 123Carbon platform, following the Smart Freight Centre’s methodology and are certified by Bureau Veritas for Unifeeder and by one of 123Carbon’s approved certifiers for Svitzer.

Customers who register for the programme automatically receive certified carbon inset credits from DP World UK at no additional cost, funded through the company’s Energy Transition Contribution.

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WHAT REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE

Registered import cargo owners receive carbon inset credits that are directly attributed and retired prior to issuance, ensuring that the associated emissions reductions have already been achieved. These certificates are non-transferable and cannot be resold. Credits will be issued on a quarterly basis.

Importers already enrolled in the programme will automatically benefit from the enhanced credit offering, while new participants are encouraged to register promptly to maximise the available benefits during the trial period.

Contact Information

To register for the Carbon Inset Programme Trial please register here, for enquiries please contact: EnergyTransition.uk@dpworld.com

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FAQs

How do I register to join the DP World UK Carbon Inset Programme Initiative Trial?
Registration is free via our online form.

No, you will not need to re-register. Your current registration will remain valid throughout the duration of the trial.

Registration is open from 6th December 2024 to 31st December 2025. We encourage you to register as soon as possible during the trial period.

To receive carbon inset credits for a particular quarter, you must register before the end of that quarter. For example, if you register before 30th June 2025, you’ll be eligible to receive credits for Q1 and Q2 2025 based on your import-laden container volumes. If you register before 30th September 2025 (Q3), you’ll only receive credits for Q3 import volumes and future quarters. Registrations made after 30th September 2025 and before 31st December 2025 apply only to volumes moved during Q4 and future quarters.

Yes, the trial applies to import laden containers in both of our UK Ports.
No, you will only be required to register once.
The trial was initially 6 months to 30th June 2025. However, due to the success of the trial it, the trial has been extended for a further six months, running until 31st December 2025. All customers who have registered for the initiative will be eligible to receive the inset certificates dependant on volume of import laden containers during the 12-month trial period.

Email the team at EnergyTransition.uk@dpworld.com, letting us know that you would like to de-register, and we will remove you from the trial.

Customers that do not register for initiative will not be eligible to receive any carbon inset certificates from this trial.
The initiative applies to all import laden container volumes from 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2025 for those that have registered. Registrations made after 31st December 2025 will not be eligible for the initiative.
You will receive your unique certificate via email as a PDF attachment from energytransition.uk@dpworld.com
Each import laden container will be eligible for 250kg CO2e.
The 250kg CO₂e credit represents the estimated carbon savings associated with the full port call of each import-laden container. This calculation encompasses emissions reductions from vessels berthed at DP World’s UK terminals as well as from tug and pilot boat operations. The figure is derived from the use of lower-carbon fuels across the Unifeeder shipping network and Svitzer’s towage services.
The value of carbon inset certificates varies and is subject to supply and demand fluctuations on global carbon markets.
Carbon insets will be issued quarterly – the first round of certificates were sent out in April 2025, second round will be July 2025, third round October 2025, and then January 2026.
Carbon insets are valid for 2 calendar years from the ‘marked as reported’ year on the certificates, which is when DP World retire the certificates on behalf of our customers. E.g. Reporting year 2025, will be valid until the end of 2027.
Carbon insets generated through Unifeeder’s GreenBox solution which cover emissions from container ship operations are verified by Bureau Veritas, a recognised third-party verifier. Svitzer contributes by using low-carbon tug boats during towage, generating additional insets hosted on the 123Carbon platform and verified by one of its approved verifiers, further strengthening the credibility and impact of the programme. Each certificate includes verification details to ensure transparency and traceability.
Unifeeder’s GreenBox is a carbon insetting solution to decarbonise the seaborne sections of their supply chains. GreenBox tracks shipments made aboard their marine services using alternative, low emission fuels, and generates tokens for each kg of carbon saved. GreenBox uses the transparent and externally verified 123 Carbon Platform. For more information, see the GreenBox and 123Carbon websites.
Carbon inset certificates will be funded by the Energy Transition Contribution, an existing charge on all import-laden containers in our ports.
Scope 3 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions that result from an organisation’s activities from assets not owned or controlled by the organisation. These are emissions upstream and downstream in their supply chain.
For Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCO) there will be Scope 3 emissions associated from the transport of their goods which are generated from assets not owned or controlled by the organisation e.g. container vessel emissions. This trial is assisting BCO’s with reducing their Scope 3 emissions from their supply chain.
Carbon inset certificates represent CO₂e reductions achieved through investments in a company’s value chain. In this trial, certificates are generated by funding the use of low-carbon fuels in Unifeeder container vessels and by incorporating Svitzer’s low-carbon tug boats during towage operations. These insets are managed via Unifeeder’s GreenBox solution, verified by Bureau Veritas, with verification details included on each certificate. Svitzer’s insets are hosted on the 123Carbon platform and verified by one of its approved verifiers.
DP World hopes to assist our customers in reducing emissions across their supply chain and increase awareness of Scope 3 emissions. The 250kg CO2e level per import laden container addresses the emissions associated with the entire port call of container ships when manoeuvring into London Gateway or Southampton over their ‘last nautical mile’, including the emissions of the tug and pilot boats. These insets can be used to address Scope 3 emissions across customers supply chains.
Carbon insets can be used in your sustainability reporting, using the certificate as evidence of reduction in a company’s Scope 3 reporting from marine fuel consumption. The inset certificate will be retired on the 123Carbon platform prior to issue, confirming that the emission reduction has been realised.
Carbon insets can be used in certain sustainability reporting to represent a legitimate reduction in emissions within a company’s value chain and are already recognised by regulation such as the EU’s CSRD.
No, the carbon inset will be retired prior to issue so you will not be allowed to transfer or sell your certificate to avoid the risk of double counting carbon reductions. Your certificate will be issued in the Company’s registered name that appears on Companies House.
DP World will verify the ownership of containers using the provided EORI number. When registering for this trial, you give permission for us to use your EORI number for this purpose – more information is available in the Terms & Conditions.
An Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) is a European Union registration and identification number for businesses which undertake the import or export of goods into or out of the EU. Any business or individual established in the EU (an economic operator) needs to obtain an EORI number from their national customs authority before commencing customs activities in the EU. An economic operator established outside the EU needs to be assigned an EORI number if it intends to lodge a customs declaration, an Entry or an Exit Summary Declaration.
An EORI number is required to link your container to your company. Without it, we wouldn’t know which containers qualify for the initiative. We will validate your EORI number online.
After a successful first 6 months, the trial has been extended to 12 months to further explore interest in the initiative and its impact in decarbonising our customers’ supply chains.
A decision will be made and communicated towards the end of the 12-month trial.
In its trial period, this initiative only offers carbon insets per import laden container without the option to purchase more. The option to purchase additional carbon insets is something we will consider in the future if this trial is successful.
Carbon insets are generated through the use of biofuels on containerships operated by Unifeeder and on tug boats operated by Svitzer. The biofuels employed are in compliance with the ISCC-EU certification and are classified as second-generation as per Annex 9a of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (RED II).

Terms & Conditions