Abstract:

This report examines the options for measuring and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from transporting chemicals produced in Europe. It is based on a review of literature, the results of a preliminary survey of large chemical companies undertaken by Cefic, interviews with senior logistics managers in the chemical industry and a high-level workshop on the subject convened by Cefic. The study also investigated the measurement of carbon emissions from transport in other industrial sectors to see what lessons, if any, can be learned by chemical companies.

The report  considers the reasons why companies need to carbon footprint their transport operations. It discusses a series of key issues that must be resolved when designing a carbon measurement system for freight transport. These include the choice of approach (either energy-based or activitybased), the definition of corporate, functional, system and geographical boundaries around the logistics system to be audited, the types of greenhouse gas (GHG) and transport modes to be included in the calculation, the degree of analytical disaggregation and assumptions to made about the allocation of emissions from the empty repositioning of vehicles and containers.