Guest Blog Post | BIFA is cooperating with Pledge, an integrated carbon measurement and offsetting platform, to help its members better understand and address the environmental issues that affect how they manage international supply chains.
With rising concerns over the impact of climate change, transport and logistics (T&L) faces increased pressures to tackle its carbon footprint, but implementing this shift has the potential to cause disruption to the industry.
Until now, complexity and a lack of trust have hindered T&L’s adoption of scope 3 emissions measurement, which brings us to the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Framework. The GLEC Framework is a methodology that provides a consistent, standardised, and transparent foundation for scope 3 emissions calculations in global logistics. This article will allow Members to understand what it is, its significance, and why measuring emissions with this methodology is crucial for long-term stability of the industry.
What is the GLEC Framework?
Published in 2016 by the Smart Freight Centre (SFC), the GLEC Framework is a set of industry-leading guidelines that outline and standardise the methodology for calculating and reporting logistics greenhouse gases across all modes of transport.
As the only globally recognised standard for emissions calculations in the logistics industry, it also serves as the primary industry guideline to support the implementation of the ISO:14083 standard for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions arising from transport chain operations.
How does the GLEC Framework work?
At its most basic level, the GLEC Framework enables forwarders to use shipment weight, distance travelled, and an emissions intensity factor to calculate an accurate estimate of the emissions produced for a given shipment.
The GLEC Framework’s methodology also enables users to gain further insight and accuracy depending on the quality and granularity of data they’re able to provide such as specific shipment data to increase the accuracy of their emissions.
The methodology is specifically designed to use standard assumptions taken from average industry operating practices to fill any data gaps. This means forwarders with very little shipment data can still access accredited emissions calculations.
It’s important to note that standard assumptions are typically conservative, so relying on them may over- or underestimate emissions compared with actual conditions. If Members want a more precise and accurate emissions calculations, it’s recommended to input as much data as possible.
The benefits of measuring carbon emissions with the GLEC Framework
For freight forwarders, GLEC-accredited scope 3 emissions measurement helps overcome many of the problems the industry has faced in the past, including:
- The GLEC Framework provides a universal methodology for emissions calculations. Members of all sizes and across various sectors can now measure and report emissions consistently, ensuring fairness and transparency across the industry.
- Freight forwarders can compare their emissions performance with industry peers and benchmark against best practices, which grant customers the ability to make decisions backed by data, empowering them to set realistic reduction targets.
- Using the GLEC Framework will result in a more harmonised approach to emissions calculations, which will improve collective efforts to reduce emissions across the entire supply chain.
- Embracing the GLEC Framework will allow Members to future proof their business operations. As sustainability regulations and reporting requirements develop, so will the GLEC Framework. As a result, Members with GLEC-accredited scope 3 emissions reporting will be better positioned to stay ahead of evolving requirements.
What’s next for the GLEC Framework?
As the logistics landscape continues to evolve, the GLEC Framework will need to adapt and expand to meet new challenges and opportunities that drive profitability in T&L while promoting sustainability. Here’s how the GLEC Framework may adapt to have an even stronger impact in the future:
- While the Framework has already started to gain recognition, promoting the wider adoption among freight forwarders globally remains essential.
- As technology and data collection methods evolve, the GLEC Framework will need to adapt to further enhance the accuracy of emissions calculations. Embracing technologies and incorporating real-time data inputs could lead to even more precise results.
Whatever the future holds for the GLEC Framework, it will play a pivotal role in helping the industry tackle potential challenges and seize emerging opportunities as the industry transitions to a more sustainable operation.
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Source: Pledge
PLEASE NOTE: All information contained in this article was correct at time of publication and obtained directly from Pledge. Please ensure information is cross-checked against current legislations before taking any action.
