Fully electric trucks and sustainable shipping: Green logistics in e-commerce
DHL, Daimler Truck and Hylane sign the largest electric truck contract for 2025
In June 2025, DHL, Daimler Truck and the commercial vehicle rental company Hylane made groundbreaking progress. Partnership The deal for fully electric trucks has been finalized. DHL will acquire 30 electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 trucks from Hylane as part of their "Transport-as-a-Service" model, without having to purchase the vehicles themselves. These electric trucks are scheduled to enter operation in German parcel logistics by mid-2026. This is also the largest electric truck deal for the three partners.Contract in Germany this year. This collaboration underlines how strong the trend towards green logistics which now shapes the transport industry.
For e-commerce retailers, the question arises: What do such developments mean for shipping?
We are familiar with current trends in sustainable logistics, their impact on e-commerce shipping, and the specific benefits that sustainable shipping offers both retailers and end customers. We also demonstrate how... worldwideShipping with green shipping solutions can make a contribution.
Sustainable shipping: Key trends and technological developments
In the logistics sector, we are observing several green trends simultaneously. First, alternative drive systems are being intensively promoted. Electrically powered trucks and delivery vehicles are entering the mass market – modern e-trucks like the eActros 600, with intermediate charging, enable a range of over 1.000 km per day and are therefore also suitable for long-distance transport. At the same time, investments are also being made in hydrogen technology to provide emission-free drive systems for various applications. Hylane, as a technology-neutral provider, is thus strategically expanding its fleet with battery-electric and fuel cell-electric trucks to ensure the best solution for every transport requirement. Zero-emission solution to offer. Electric vans, e-cargo bikes and micro-hubs are also becoming established in urban delivery traffic to make deliveries on the "last mile" less polluting and quieter – according to DHL, every cargo bike that replaces a delivery van saves up to 8 tons of CO₂ per year.
For truly sustainable shipping, many logistics companies also rely on CO₂ compensation and efficiency improvements. Climate-neutral parcel shipping means offsetting the remaining emissions of a delivery through Climate protection projects To offset emissions, services like DHL GoGreen already offer this for a few cents extra, while some competitors like DPD deliver all packages carbon-neutrally as standard, at no extra charge. At the same time, transport processes are being optimized: AI-powered route planning, consolidating shipments, and using urban micro-depots reduce distances and empty miles, thus lowering emissions and costs. Packaging is also being made more sustainable – for example, through reusable or recycled materials – to avoid waste and conserve resources.
The following table provides an overview of key measures of green logistics and their advantages:
| Measure/Technology | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Electric trucks and vans | Use of battery-electric trucks (e.g. eActros 600) and delivery vehicles instead of diesel vehicles. | No direct exhaust fumes or CO₂ emissions while driving, lower noise pollution (suitable for nighttime deliveries) and lower operating costs in the medium term; demonstrates a commitment to sustainable shipping. |
| Hydrogen fuel cell truck | Use of hydrogen-powered trucks where a fuel cell generates electricity for the electric motor. Suitable for longer distances and heavy loads. | Emission-free driving (emission only water vapor), longer ranges possible than with batteries; an important complementary solution alongside pure electric trucks. Decarbonization in heavy goods traffic. |
| CO₂ compensation (climate-neutral shipping) | Offsetting unavoidable emissions through investment in climate protection projects (e.g., reforestation, renewable energies). Shipping providers often offer this as an additional option. | Climate-neutral parcel shipping despite remaining emissionsImproved CO₂ balance without changes to the transport process. Strengthens the green brand image with customers. |
| Sustainable packaging | Use of recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials and reduction of filler material. Packages are packed to optimize size. | Less waste for the end customer, conservation of resources; customers appreciate environmentally friendly packaging. Reduced shipping costs due to lower volume/weight per shipment. |
| Efficient logistics & last mile | Route planning using IT/AI to minimize empty runs, consolidate shipments, and utilize micro-depots in cities. Use of cargo bikes and e-scooters for last-mile delivery. | Fewer kilometers and lower overall fuel consumption, reduced Traffic load and noise in city centers. Significant emission reduction: A cargo bike can replace a delivery van and save up to ~8 tons of CO₂ per year. |
Impact on e-commerce shipping
The developments described are already having a concrete impact on e-commerce shipping. Consumers are increasingly valuing sustainability in online orders. According to a DHL study, 53% of European online shoppers want more environmentally friendly online retail – including… Delivery and packagingOver a fifth would even be willing to pay extra for environmentally friendly shipping, and 58% would accept longer delivery times if the delivery process were more sustainable.
For retailers, this means that green delivery options can represent a real competitive advantage. In fact, 93% of online shoppers say that the shipping options offered at checkout influence their choice of retailer. Therefore, those who offer, for example, climate-neutral shipping or low-emission delivery methods are more likely to convince buyers and increase customer satisfaction. Conversely, without environmentally friendly options, retailers risk losing environmentally conscious customers to a competitor's shop with greener shipping.
Advantages for retailers and end customers
Retailers benefit from green logistics in several ways. Firstly, they strengthen their sustainable brand image and meet customer expectations for environmentally conscious practices. This can increase customer loyalty and positively impact brand perception. Secondly, sustainable measures can often be combined with efficiency gains: less packaging material and optimized routes save costs, and electric vehicles have lower energy and maintenance costs than diesel fleets in the medium term. Last but not least, retailers also meet regulations and their own climate targets (keyword: ESG certificate), which can secure additional competitive advantages in the long term.
End customers also benefit from green logistics. They receive their orders with a clearer conscience, as less CO₂ is emitted and the delivery may be carbon-neutral. Low-emission delivery also improves the quality of life locally – for example, through less noise and exhaust fumes in residential areas. Modern concepts like micro-hubs with cargo bikes can even speed up deliveries by bypassing inner-city traffic jams. Overall, customer satisfaction increases when they know their package is being transported sustainably – an added value that is becoming increasingly important to more and more people.
Green shipping solutions at paket-international
As an e-commerce logistics provider, paket-international also focuses on sustainable shipping solutions. Through our platform, merchants can easily select a green shipping option to reduce emissions. This option offsets the CO₂ emissions of each shipment through recognized climate protection projects, thus enabling climate-neutral parcel shipping without compromising quality. The green shipping option from paket-international offers the following advantages, for example:
-
Reduced CO₂ footprint of shipments (through emissions offsetting)
-
Climate protection through certified projects (offsetting with vetted partners)
-
Documentation of savings for your ESG reports
-
Sustainable brand image with your customers
-
No compromises on delivery time and price compared to standard shipping.
Implementation is incredibly simple – in the shipping cost calculator from paket-international, you simply need to activate the green option to send all shipments CO₂-neutrally. This way, sustainability goals can be achieved without sacrificing reliable service or fast delivery.
Sustainability as a success factor in shipping
The partnership between DHL, Daimler Truck, and Hylane for all-electric trucks exemplifies the industry's shift towards CO₂-reduced transport and climate-friendly logistics. Sustainability in shipping is no longer a "nice-to-have" but is becoming a crucial success factor in e-commerce. Retailers who embrace green logistics early on—whether through electric vehicles, climate-neutral shipping options, or more efficient processes—strengthen their competitive position and simultaneously contribute to climate protection. Ultimately, everyone benefits: the environment, customers, and companies. Now is the ideal time to switch to sustainable shipping and jointly pave the way for a greener future in online retail.
