Environmental Sustainability

Responsibility in action

DFDS is active and dutiful in its approach to environmental sustainability. We continuously seek new and improved ways to reduce the environmental impact of our journeys together. Meanwhile, we’re proactive in protecting your destinations and communities, and firmly committed to the safety, health and wellbeing of our employees – at work and at home. We see no other way to run a genuinely sustainable business.

The DFDS Climate Action Plan

Our goals are bold. But they’re also clear, quantifiable and achievable. For example, we know we can reduce relative emissions by 45% by 2030. So we will.

We will also be carbon neutral by 2050, at sea and overland.

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DFDS already has an extensive range of initiatives in action, securing meaningful and enduring positives. Here are just a few of them:

ORCA

We’re raising public awareness and understanding of marine life in the North Sea and English Channel, with ORCA conservation experts running informative and inspiring sessions aboard our Newcastle-Amsterdam and Newhaven-Dieppe ferry routes from March to September.

ORCA Experience Newcastle – Amsterdam ORCA Experience Newhaven - Dieppe ORCA: 15 MILESTONES IN 15 YEARS

Ocean Conservation Trust

DFDS has partnered with a remarkable team of ‘Ocean Optimists’ dedicated to protecting our oceans and coastlines. Their latest project focuses on regenerating and safeguarding seagrass beds on UK coastlines – an incredibly biodiverse and ecologically vital habitat.

Ocean Conservation Trust

Minimising food waste onboard

25% less food waste by 2025 – across all DFDS itineraries. That’s ambitious, but it’s achievable, and it’s vital to the genuine sustainability we’ve set our sights on. We also hope our innovations in reducing food waste will inspire the wider maritime industry to do more – and you, our passengers, to join us!

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Carbon reduction programmes

Full and partial insetting are two key ways DFDS passengers can be part of our extensive ‘decarbonising’ initiatives – by directly supporting our internal carbon-reduction projects, and by investing in our group-wide transition to more environmentally sustainable operations.

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ReSea Project

Plastics are a real threat to sea life and delicately balanced marine ecosystems, and ReSea is one of only two companies in the world fully certified to collect and help to re-purpose the ocean of plastic in our oceans. To help protect the water we share with sea life, DFDS is dedicated to collaborating with ReSea in support of their vital work.

Reducing single use plastics across all routes

Destination: no SUPs on DFDS by 2026. Single-use plastics are seen as cheap and convenient… but in environmental terms, they cost the earth. That’s why we use them as little as possible, and will actively seek ways to reduce them further across all our routes.

Sustainable fuels project

We’re fully devoted to playing our part in crucial collaborations towards cleaner combustion options. Our partnership initiative with Copenhagen Airports, A.P. Moller - Maersk, DSV Panalpina, SAS and Ørstedaims aims to create environmentally sustainable fuels on a huge scale for maritime, aviation and overland vehicle needs across our industry and supply chain - by building a new ground-breaking hydrogen and e-fuel factory.

Pioneering maritime scrubber installations

DFDS is investing in breakthrough technology that can safely and efficiently remove and dispose of air pollutants from our fleet’s engines. This will help us to reduce harmful sulphur emissions significantly, in line with stricter global standards and our own dedication to more environmentally responsible operations.

The European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and DFDS’s Passenger ETS Surcharge Explained

Below we’ve developed detailed FAQs so you can learn more about ETS and how it impacts you as a customer.

If you have any further questions after reading our FAQs, please do contact us. We appreciate your support in this collective journey towards a greener future.

The Emissions Trading System (ETS) is a market-based approach implemented by the European Union, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions effectively while encouraging sustainable practices.

It follows a "cap-and-trade" approach, setting a cap on the total amount of CO2 that can be emitted by participating companies. This cap decreases each year, providing a clear trajectory towards reducing emissions.

From January 2024, ETS will be extended to cover CO2 emissions from all large ships entering EU ports and therefor will impact all DFDS journeys from this date.

At DFDS, we understand the importance of addressing climate change and are dedicated to reducing our environmental impact and complying with environmental regulations.

To comply with the ETS, we will introduce an 'ETS Surcharge' on all journeys starting from January 2024. This surcharge, which reflects the cost of CO2 produced as determined by the ETS, will be shared between our freight customers and passengers on ROPAX (Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger) vessels based on expected volumes.

By introducing this ETS Surcharge, DFDS aims to ensure transparency and share the responsibility of combatting climate change with its customers, while continuing to provide reliable transportation services.

We want to assure our customers that the surcharge we have implemented is not a means for us to generate profit. Instead, it is a mechanism by which we pass through funds to support the ETS.

At DFDS, we're leading the way in decarbonising our operations and minimising our environmental impact. Our efforts in building a sustainable future include:

Investing in cleaner technologies: We continuously invest in state-of-the-art vessels and onboard technologies that reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency.
Optimising vessel performance: Through meticulous route planning, streamlined operations, and advanced engineering, we maximise vessel performance, minimising fuel consumption and emissions.
Exploring alternative fuels: DFDS actively explores and tests alternative fuels, such as biofuels and hydrogen, to reduce our reliance on traditional fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions.

The ETS and carbon offsetting are both mechanisms aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but they differ in their approach and scope.

ETS focuses on regulating and reducing emissions within specific sectors and regions by setting caps and trading emission allowances, while carbon offsetting allows for the compensation of emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gases.

Both ETS and carbon offsetting contribute to overall emission reduction efforts, with ETS targeting specific industries and carbon offsetting providing additional flexibility and opportunities for emission reductions in various sectors.

Please note that these answers provide a general understanding of ETS, its impact, and DFDS's commitment to decarbonisation. For more detailed information on ETS, please click here.