DHL Express with Survey and E-Book on Sustainability

Sustainability has become a strategic necessity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), significantly influencing their long-term value and credibility, as a recent international survey by DHL Express shows. To better understand the growing importance of sustainability in the supply chain, DHL Express conducted a detailed survey among 5,000 decision-makers from SMEs in 11 markets: the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, China, Singapore, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and India.

(Bonn) The companies participating in the study come from nine sectors: retail, consumer goods, freelance services, mechanical engineering, fashion, technology, chemicals, life sciences and healthcare, as well as financial services. They provided valuable insights to help SMEs navigate a constantly changing environment and seize new opportunities. The resulting eBook highlights the impact of sustainability on SMEs and the growing priority it holds in their supply chains.

“Sustainability is at the top of the agenda for many companies today. However, the challenge of developing and implementing a sustainability strategy can often seem overwhelming – many respondents indicated that they do not know where to start. By partnering with a trusted logistics company like DHL Express, known for its portfolio of emission-reduced shipping solutions, SMEs can position themselves to remain viable and competitive while ensuring long-term growth,” says Michiel Greeven, Executive Vice President Global Commercial at DHL Express.

High Relevance, Low Willingness to Invest

At least two-thirds of SMEs across all surveyed industries stated that sustainability is either “very important” or “extremely important” to them. The financial services sector and the fashion sector agreed most strongly with this assessment, with 81% of respondents in each group giving this response. Despite the widespread understanding of the importance of the issue, most SMEs are hesitant to allocate funds for sustainable initiatives. The majority (53%) are only willing to invest 1-3% of their operating budget into sustainable practices. Only 9% of SMEs want to invest more than 5%, while 16% do not want to invest anything at all.

Internal and Customer Acceptance Remains a Major Challenge

While the global average of customers willing to pay more for sustainable shipping is only 23%, trust among SMEs in India and China is significantly higher: 51% and 47% believe their customers would be willing to do so. When asked about the challenges in achieving their sustainability goals, most SMEs in all markets indicated that they need to ensure internal and customer acceptance. This is particularly pronounced in Germany, where 74% of SMEs face this challenge.

Fashion Industry and Financial Services Sector Among the Most Sustainable Industries

Although the fashion industry is often under particular scrutiny regarding the sustainability of its supply chain, most SMEs in the fashion industry advocate for sustainability. 81% of respondents in this sector stated that it is “very important” or “extremely important” for their business, and more than three-quarters (78%) believe that offering sustainable delivery options could enhance their brand image (to some/great/very great extent). SMEs in the financial services sector are most likely to state that sustainability is “extremely important” for their business (43%). This sector is also most likely to be willing to allocate operating budgets for sustainability practices (88%) and is most likely to believe that offering sustainable delivery options could lead to greater business success (47% “to a great/very great extent”).

DHL Express continuously works to improve the sustainability of its operations and services, contributing to the sustainability goals of the DHL Group, which aims to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions to below 29 million tons, electrify 66% of last-mile vehicles, and increase the share of emission-reduced fuels to over 30% by 2030. Additionally, DHL Express customers can take action to reduce their Scope 3 emissions through the use of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) in the DHL Express air freight fleet with the GoGreen Plus service. Based on the “Book and Claim” approach, the savings achieved (Scope 3) are passed on to customers in the form of certificates.

Sustainability Could Transform the Logistics Industry

Sustainability will transform the industry in the next ten years. This comprehensive eBook has been developed to help SMEs take actionable steps to improve the sustainability of their logistics and tackle all challenges arising from their customers’ expectations. As a global leader in the logistics industry, DHL Express supports thousands of SMEs worldwide across various sectors and is committed to providing the right tools, strategies, and insights to assist SMEs in their sustainable practices.

Download the E-Book here

Photo: © DHL