Luxury e-commerce reduces CO2e-emissions: How a global brand made a bold step into more sustainable shipping

Putting sustainability in fashion

Mytheresa is one of the leading global luxury e-commerce platforms shipping to over 130 countries. Founded as a boutique in 1987, Mytheresa launched online in 2006 and offers ready-to-wear, shoes, bags and accessories for womenswear, menswear and kidswear. In 2022, Mytheresa expanded its luxury offering to home décor and lifestyle products with the launch of the category “Life”. The highly curated edit of over 200 brands focuses on true luxury brands such as Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Dolce&Gabbana, Gucci, Loewe, Loro Piana, Moncler, Prada, Saint Laurent, Valentino and many more. Mytheresa’s unique digital experience is based on a sharp focus on high-end luxury shoppers, exclusive product and content offerings, leading technology and analytical platforms as well as high quality service operations.

It conducts yearly measurements of the greenhouse gas emissions generated in its operations, shipments, returns and packaging. For this, the company’s adoption of DHL Express’ GoGreen Plus will have a significant impact. The service uses Sustainable Aviation Fuel – a biofuel that is produced from renewable sources such as animal fats and agricultural crops – as a substitute for traditional jet fuel, and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly compared to fossil fuels.  

Making aviation history

GoGreen Plus is part of the DHL Group’s bigger goal of Mission 2050: Zero Emissions – a commitment to reduce all its logistics-related emissions to net-zero by the year 2050.

In 2022, when BP and Neste agreed to supply DHL Express with more than 800 million liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel until 2026, it was one of the largest deals in aviation history. It is expected to save over two million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the aviation fuel lifecycle – that is, from the moment the fuel is extracted at source until its final release from a plane during transit.  

Furthermore, in 2023, DHL Express signed a seven-year deal with World Energy for 668 million liters of SAF via sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc). The agreement is expected to reduce approximately 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the aviation fuel lifecycle – equivalent to handling the 77,000 annual aircraft movements of DHL Express in the Americas carbon neutrally for a full year. 

“We know our customers are committed to reducing their environmental impact so it’s important we’re giving them the means to do so,” John Pearson said, following the deal. “I’m delighted that our investment in SAF can now be fully leveraged by customers to enable them to bring down the emissions of their shipments. SAF is currently the primary route to reducing carbon emissions in aviation, so this is the most effective way to help our customers make their own supply chains more sustainable.”

A greener future 

With climate change one of the defining challenges of our time, brands will continue to face pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their logistics. Consumers are taking note – in DHL’s 2023 Global Online Shopper Survey, 71% of respondents said sustainability is an important consideration when shopping online, whilst 28% claimed they would even be willing to pay more for a greener delivery option.

For small businesses, it all starts with a first step – whether that means switching to eco-friendly packaging or implementing a reverse logistics strategy. And as a business begins to grow, and perhaps consider an international shipping strategy for the first time, DHL Express’ GoGreen Portfolio has a range of solutions to keep them on track to meet their sustainability goals – as the Mytheresa partnership has shown.   

With a DHL Express Business Account, you'll benefit from the full portfolio of GoGreen solutions, as well as expert support from the international shipping experts.