Why Calculate Logistics Carbon Footprint?

As global supply chains expand, the logistics industry accounts for roughly 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Calculating your Carbon Footprint per Shipment is increasingly required by governments (such as the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), large B2B clients requiring Scope 3 emissions data, and consumers demanding eco-friendly practices.

Understanding Emission Factors (CO₂e)

Carbon footprint calculations rely on "Emission Factors," which measure how many grams of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) are released into the atmosphere to move one metric ton of cargo over one kilometer (g/t-km).

• Air Freight (~500 g/t-km): Extremely fast but highly polluting. Flying cargo produces up to 50 times more carbon emissions than ocean freight.
• Road/Truck (~60 g/t-km): The standard for domestic "last-mile" or cross-country delivery. Less efficient than rail due to aerodynamics, engine limits, and traffic.
• Rail (~20 g/t-km): Highly efficient for domestic freight. A single freight train can carry the load of hundreds of trucks while using far less diesel.
• Ocean (~10 g/t-km): The most carbon-efficient way to move goods globally. Massive container ships leverage economies of scale to produce very low emissions per unit of cargo.

How to Reduce Shipment Emissions

The most effective strategy to reduce your carbon footprint is modal shifting. If you currently fly goods from Asia to Europe or North America, switching to ocean freight will instantly slash your transport emissions by over 95%. For domestic shipping, utilizing rail networks instead of long-haul trucking can reduce emissions by up to 65%.

Other strategies include optimizing packaging to reduce "dead air" (allowing more products per container) and consolidating shipments to reduce the total number of trips.