Lenovo Joins CO2 Alliance of DB Schenker/Lufthansa Cargo

Another major customer from the IT industry joins DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo on their path to greener supply chains: Lenovo, a global provider of hardware technology, is now flying 20 tons of cargo weekly from Shanghai (PVG) to Frankfurt am Main (FRA). The CO2-neutral cargo flight is the only regular full charter connection in the world that is 100 percent covered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

(Frankfurt/Main) SAF is derived from bio-waste, such as used cooking oils. The transported products include laptops, notebooks, and PCs for private and corporate customers.

Thorsten Meincke, Board Member for Air and Sea Freight at DB Schenker: “Our unique SAF full charter flights help companies make their shipments more sustainable. Lenovo is an important customer for this groundbreaking initiative and an example that shippers are striving for and implementing a real shift towards greener transportation. We look forward to more pioneers who want to decarbonize their transports with us.”

Gareth Davies, Head of Logistics at Lenovo: “Sustainability is crucial for our business and our mission to develop smarter technologies for everyone. We are proud to enhance our offerings through collaboration with DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo. It is of immense relevance for both companies and individuals to take action for greater sustainability. We are excited about this new partnership.”

Growing Number of Customers

Ashwin Bhat, Board Member for Product and Sales at Lufthansa Cargo: “Our alliance with DB Schenker to avoid CO2 emissions is gaining more supporters. A growing number of customers recognize that we must work across industries towards our common goal. Only together can we make a difference. With our SAF flights, we are pioneering the way.”

In April 2021, DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo launched the world’s first regular SAF-covered full charter connection between Frankfurt and Shanghai. The joint offering will continue throughout the entire winter flight schedule. The CO2 emitted by the engines is solely that which the plants used to produce, for example, cooking oil, have removed from the atmosphere during their photosynthesis. The SAF is refined from the resulting bio-waste.

Saving 20 Tons of Conventional Kerosene per Flight

By choosing the SAF flights offered by DB Schenker in cooperation with Lufthansa Cargo, Lenovo saves approximately 20 tons of conventional kerosene per flight weekly, thus reducing 62 tons of greenhouse gases (CO2e Well-to-Wheel). Additionally, the approximately 16 tons of CO2e generated during the production and transport of the SAF (upstream emissions) are offset through compensation measures. This achieves complete climate neutrality.

Photo: © Lufthansa Cargo/Oliver Rösler