The fashion and lifestyle platform Shein has taken a significant step in the decarbonization of its air logistics by forging a new alliance with DHL. With this move, the company seeks to measurably reduce the climate impact of transporting its goods by air, a key link in its global supply chain.
Specifically, Shein has signed an agreement with DHL to incorporate the GoGreen Plus servicea solution that makes it easier to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within the logistics operator's air transport network. The initiative is part of a broader package of pilot projects and international collaborations with airlines and fuel suppliers aimed at reducing emissions and improving the traceability of their carbon footprint.
An agreement to integrate SAF into DHL's air network
As both companies have explained, The GoGreen Plus service will allow some of the fuel used in DHL's air network to be replaced by SAF.so that Shein can link a portion of its shipments to this type of energy with a lower climate impact. Unlike conventional kerosene, sustainable aviation fuel is designed to offer significant emission reductions throughout its entire life cyclefrom production to final use.
The operating model is based on the fact that DHL incorporates SAF into its aviation fuel mix and subsequently allocates the emission reductions achieved to the companies participating in the program, including Shein. This is done using internationally recognized accounting methodologiesThis ensures that COâ‚‚ savings are not counted twice and are distributed transparently.
These reductions are documented through accredited certification systemsThis allows Shein to integrate the data into its own emissions reports. In this way, the company has a verifiable basis for reporting the climate impact of its SAF investment, an increasingly important aspect given the growing regulatory requirements in Europe and other markets.
From Shein herself, Mustan Lalani, Head of SustainabilityHe emphasized that working with a logistics partner like DHL helps them understand in greater detail How to fit sustainable aviation fuel into daily air cargo operationsIn his words, these types of agreements are part of a broader effort by the company to assess the real potential of new solutions in the aviation sector to reduce transportation-related emissions.
On behalf of DHL, John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, he emphasized that the group considers itself pioneer in sustainable logistics and that the signing of the GoGreen Plus agreement with Shein constitutes an additional milestone in its roadmap towards greener air logisticsPearson also noted that DHL was already a long-standing partner in Shein's global network, so this step is seen as a natural evolution of the relationship, now focused on how to more broadly incorporate SAF into freight operations.
A broader strategy: pilots with airlines and logistics partners
The agreement with DHL is not an isolated move. Shein has spent several years building a network of pilot projects and agreements with cargo airlines and fuel suppliers to test in practice how the SAF works and what real impact it has on emissions reduction. The firm maintains that this approach allows it to assess both the economic viability of sustainable fuel such as the operation of the associated certification and traceability systems.
In this context, one of the most significant milestones was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Lufthansa Cargo in 2025. From that agreement, Shein has gone expanding its alliances with logistics operators, cargo airlines and industry organizations, with the aim of better understanding the role that the SAF can play in the decarbonization of air routes that connect its production centers with destination markets in Europe and other regions.
Among the initiatives already implemented is a pilot program with Atlas Air, in which Shein tested the acquisition and use of 187,3 tons of sustainable aviation fuel in 14 charter flightsAccording to data released by the company, this experience allowed them to achieve a estimated reduction of 579,1 tons of COâ‚‚ equivalent (tCOâ‚‚e), a figure that serves as an internal reference to assess the potential for expanding the use of SAF on more routes.
In addition to these pilots with international airlines, Shein is participating in a program promoted by China National Aviation Fuel (CNAF) and the Second Research Institute of Civil Aviation of China (CASRI)The objective of this scheme is Bringing together airlines and air transport user companies to accelerate the adoption of SAF in China, one of the company's main production and distribution hubs.
Within this program, the companies involved can support the use of sustainable fuel through acquisition agreements that contribute to creating a broader commercial framework for the SAF in the country. Shein plans purchase an initial volume of sustainable fuel from Air China Cargo, with traceability mechanisms that allow close monitoring of both fuel usage and associated emissions reductions.
Certification, traceability and international regulatory pressure
One of the key points of all these initiatives is the need for robust certifications and clear accounting systems that demonstrate the real impact of the SAF. In the case of the program led by CNAF and CASRI, it is expected that both organizations issue certificates based on sustainability evidence, which detail the volumes of sustainable fuel used and the emission reductions achieved compared to conventional kerosene.
These certificates are especially relevant in a context where Regulators, especially in the European Union, are increasing pressure to reduce aviation emissions.Regulations such as ReFuelEU Aviation They will progressively require an increase in the percentage of SAF in fuels used on flights operating within the EU, which increases the demand for this type of solution from airlines and shippers.
For companies with significant exposure to air freight, such as Shein, to be able to demonstrate with verifiable data that there is a commitment to the SAF This can make a difference both in terms of regulatory compliance and corporate reputation. Traceability of purchased volumes, registration of flights using this fuel, and accounting for the tons of COâ‚‚ avoided thus become essential elements of their climate strategy.
By relying on accounting methodologies internationally recognized and in accredited certification systemsThe company is striving to align itself with the standards that are becoming established in the global market. This approach also makes it easier for emissions data to be comparable and auditable, something increasingly demanded by investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.
In parallel, the agreement with DHL and the pilots with different airlines provide Shein with a practical foundation on which to evaluate costs, operational logistics and availability of SAF in different regions, including Europe, where regulatory and social pressure on the carbon footprint of e-commerce is particularly intense.
International alliances and the role of Green Fuel Forward
In addition to its collaborations with logistics operators and airlines, Shein has decided to participate in Green Fuel Forward, an initiative promoted by the World Economic Forum that pursues to promote the adoption of SAF in the Asia-Pacific regionThis program aims to create a space for cooperation between companies, airlines, and fuel producers to accelerate the transition to more sustainable alternatives in aviation.
Green Fuel Forward focuses on several fronts: on one hand, it seeks raise awareness about the role of sustainable fuel among the different actors in the value chain; on the other hand, it promotes capacity building actions, technical training and creation of collaborative frameworks that facilitate the take-off of a more mature SAF market.
Shein's participation in these types of forums allows her share lessons learned from their pilot projects with SAFwhile gaining insights into new technologies, business models, and potential partners. At a time when the availability of sustainable fuel remains limited and prices are higher than those of traditional kerosene, these types of partnerships can prove crucial for generate aggregate demand and send clear signals to producers.
For the European market, where increasing attention is being paid to the environmental footprint of online commerce, these moves can be interpreted as an attempt to Aligning Shein's air supply chain with the sustainability expectations of consumers, institutions, and regulatorsAlthough a large part of the pilot programs are carried out in Asia or on intercontinental routes, the final effect impacts the reduction of emissions associated with shipments that end up reaching customers in Spain and the rest of Europe.
Taken together, the combination of agreements like GoGreen Plus with DHL, pilot programs with cargo airlines, and participation in global initiatives like Green Fuel Forward paints a picture of a strategy in which The use of sustainable aviation fuel becomes a central element in reducing the climate impact of Shein's logistics.without losing sight of the challenges of availability, cost and verification that this type of fuel still faces.
With all these steps, Shein is trying to position itself in the field of more sustainable air logistics by a mix of trade agreements, pilot projects and participation in international platforms that revolve around sustainable aviation fuel; the new agreement with DHL, through the GoGreen Plus service, adds another piece to that puzzle, reinforcing the integration of SAF into its transport network and providing certification and traceability tools that may be especially relevant for its operations and customers in Europe.
