Tracking, and ultimately reducing CO2 emissions is one of the shipping industry’s greatest contemporary challenges. Whether the rationale for calculating these emissions is regulatory preparedness, taking emissions into consideration in the booking process, or the maintenance of brand image and reputation, the Portcast platform gives you access to shipment-level CO2 emissions calculations, in both our Web Application and API.
It’s important, however, to understand how these calculations work and what do the values provided mean in the context of your shipments, as well as the methodologies used to calculate shipment-level emissions, either in Full Container Load (FCL) or Less than a Container Load (LCL) shipments - both of which are supported by the Portcast platform.
How do CO2 emissions get calculated? What is the used methodology?
Portcast’s calculation methodology is compliant with the latest Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Framework, EN 16258 and ISO 14083. Each of these frameworks has its own approaches on CO2 calculation and scope:
- GLEC Framework: Developed by the Smart Freight Centre, this is most globally recognized methodology for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the logistics industry. It ensures alignment with broader carbon accounting frameworks such as the GHG Protocol and ISO standards. Learn more about the GLEC framework
- EN 16258 – A European standard that defines how to calculate and declare energy consumption and GHG emissions for transport services, including freight and passenger transport. It provides a standardized way to measure emissions per shipment. Learn more about the EN 16258 standard
- ISO 14083 – The latest international standard specifically for quantifying and reporting GHG emissions from transport chains. It ensures that emissions data is accurate, comparable, and aligned with sustainability goals. Learn more about the ISO 14083 standard
The application of these standards in our methodologies include principles such as:
- Using the Tank-to-Wheel (TTW) and Well-to-Tank (WTT) methods for emissions calculations
- Standardizing CO₂ calculation methodologies across different logistics operations.
- Using consistent emission factor sources, including real-time data when available.
- Incorporating various transport modes to calculate emissions consistently and breaking down emissions into fuel and energy consumption per transport mode**.**
- Applying standard emission factors from GLEC and Smart Freight Centre databases and ensuring alignment with global GHG accounting frameworks like the GHG Protocol and Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
- Providing per shipment emissions breakdown to help companies allocate emissions per consignment.
- Enabling auditable emissions tracking for supply chain sustainability reporting.
- Supporting carbon reduction strategies through precise emissions forecasting.