How DP World is Cutting Food Waste and Lowering Emissions
Global logistics firm DP World has launched a new sea route linking Morocco with the UK and Northern Europe.
This service will enable shorter export times for fresh food, improving supply chain operations and enhancing the quality of goods for consumers.
This introduction will contribute towards minimising food waste and cutting carbon emissions, both of which align with DP World's mission to develop more sustainable supply chains.
The logistics powerhouse is also expanding its capacity by investing in new fleets to accommodate increasing customer needs.
Advancing supply chain visibility
Annually, over 6.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables are exported from Morocco to Western Europe.
With a 20% annual increase due to favourable trade agreements and policy developments, the demand is growing all the time.
Sea freight is a more sustainable option to satisfy this demand when compared to other methods, like road transport.
DP World uses Unifeeder vessels and refrigerated containers (reefers), owned by the company, to alleviate congestion on routes between Tangier and Algeciras, smoothing the path all the way to Calais and Dover.
Investments have poured into 1,250 advanced reefers to keep products fresh, while a new fleet of 1,000 dry containers addresses customer demand between Northern Europe, the UK and Morocco.
Through the CARGOES digital platform, DP World promises full supply chain visibility and a comprehensive end-to-end service.
“We are launching a bespoke solution from Morocco to the UK and the continent," comments Rashid Abdulla, MD and CEO at DP World Europe.
"The key elements of this service – reliability, fast transit times and modern IT platform – will provide exporters and retailers with a viable alternative to the current transportation by truck and ensure improved quality produce at lower cost with significantly reduced carbon emissions.”
Streamlining the Food Supply Chain
The new service, ‘Atlas’, establishes a dedicated connection between Morocco, the UK, and Europe, prioritising efficiency and speed.
Agadir and Casablanca in Morocco are linked to DP World-owned ports and terminals, London Gateway and Antwerp Gateway.
Starting in November 2025, two vessels will operate this service.
A crucial part of the programme is the distribution of top-quality, fresh produce from Antwerp Gateway across Europe.
Export times for fruit and vegetable shipments to the UK will be cut by up to two days, making products fresher and higher in quality.
This route effectively reduces the carbon footprint of the food we consumer as well.
According to The Consumer Goods Forum, around 1.3 billion tonnes of edible food is wasted every year, contributing to 3.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
With consumers purchasing goods in better condition and with an extended shelf life, the new service aims to slash food waste in the UK and Europe significantly.
Markus Rodatz, Chief Operating Officer for Freight in Europe at DP World, says: “We are committed to building smarter, more sustainable and more resilient supply chains.
"The new service gives growers and retailers the confidence that their produce will arrive fresher, faster and in peak condition, while cutting emissions by 70%.
"By investing in this route from Morocco to the UK and the continent, we are making trade flow and helping our customers meet their sustainability goals.”
Reducing transport carbon emissions
The introduction of this route shifts up to 150,000 tonnes of fresh produce from road to sea each year.
This change results in emissions cuts of up to 250kg CO₂/tonne-km, representing a 70% reduction compared to road transport.
Previous transport involved a 3,000+km journey, often plagued by congestion, delays, and disruptions at border crossings.
The new sea route mitigates these issues, providing a safer and smoother journey.
Furthermore, fragile produce like tomatoes and blueberries, typically susceptible to damage on uneven roads, receives better protection with this smoother sea passage.
Ultimately, Atlas aims to provide higher-quality fruits and vegetables to the UK and Europe, leveraging DP World's dependable infrastructure and offerings.
