Planes, trains, ships and automobiles form the backbone of a supply chain and are vital to the global economy. They also generate greenhouse gas emissions, which forward thinking companies aim to control. Carbon accounting and reduction provides a strong business case as well as meeting the expectations of customers, governments and investors.

 

In the past, reporting comparing GHG emissions from such different transport modes has been like comparing apples with oranges as there are so many reporting methodologies.

However, in June 2016, the Smart Freight Centre launched the GLEC framework to deal with this complex reporting issue. The GLEC framework provide a universal and transparent guide for shippers, carriers and logistics service providers on how to report and account for their emissions from logistics operations.

The GLEC framework combines already existing methods into one framework and is designed to be used in conjunction with the voluntary GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. It has even earned the “Built on GHG Protocol” mark for its compliance with GHG Protocol’s requirements.

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So who are GLEC?

The Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) is a group of companies, associations and programs, leading experts and other stakeholders. The members include well-known global companies such as DHL, DB Schenker and Kuehne+Nagel, who have also already committed to adopting the GLEC Framework.

Benefits of using the GLEC Framework

The GLEC Framework enables Corporates in the transport- and logistic service industry to:

  1. understand their carbon footprint
  2. report on carbon accounting and notify reductions in emissions
  3. meet obligations from customers, stakeholders and governments
  4. make logistics business decisions
  5. identify ways to increase efficiency
  6. select more fuel-efficient modes, routes and freight carriers
  7. reduce costs and time

The Future

The launch of this industry-focused Framework doesn’t mean the problems are now forever solved. Carbon reporting is an ongoing process which keeps developing. The next step for GLEC will be to continue to fill remaining gaps and expand the framework with Black Carbon and air pollutants.

For more detailed information about the GLEC framework, visit Smart Freight Centre or the World Resources Institute.

To learn more about the benefits of reporting on your carbon footprint and how to start your sustainability journey – see our previous blog post “The sustainability journey”. To learn more about sustainability reporting, come and talk to BraveGen, at the Environmental Compliance Conference 16th to 18th November.

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[1] UM Automotive Futures/ SMART Sustainable Supply Chains Conference Detroit, 17 February 2016
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