How to decarbonize your supply chain  

A push to reduce carbon emissions is forcing organizations to rethink their approach 

Freight accounts for a significant chunk of global carbon emissions, around 17% in total. Goods will always need to be transported, however, so the challenge is not to eradicate them but to make a series of changes to reduce them. 

Michael Soussan, Managing Partner at TNP Consultants, put the issue into context during a webinar masterclass on decarbonization hosted by Wakeo. “Since the beginning of time, people have been trying to transport more, further and faster. Today’s projections show an increase of 2% to 3% a year until 2035 of the ton per kilometer that will be transported.” 

He said only once since 1960 had demand for world transport ever slightly stagnated – and that was during the 2008 recession. Beyond that exception, it has only ever increased in volume.  

“Goods will continue to move,” he said. “They don’t yet have legs, so there will always be a need for transportation. This is about how to transport differently to improve their carbon footprint.” 

TNP Consultants supports both shippers and carriers with transformation and transition projects, particularly around CSR, energy and performance.  

Soussan was speaking alongside Wakeo COO William Brachini: “Too often the need to become more ‘green’ is regarded as a ‘stick’, a negative, when in fact it is actually also a way to reduce costs.”  

Requirements and recommendations 

Of the 17% of freight emissions, almost half results from road transport. There is a clear challenge to overcome in this area, which regulations are already trying to tackle. 

European climate law, ‘Fit for 55’, makes reaching the EU’s goal of reducing EU emissions by at least 55% by 2030 a legal obligation. EU countries are working on legislation to help to achieve this aim and make the EU climate-neutral by 2050. 

Soussan suggested a number of steps businesses can move towards taking now, or expect to be available in the future, to help to cut their carbon usage: 

• Anticipate: There will always be some critical raw materials that have to be sourced overseas. One way to reduce emissions generated from their transportation is to preempt requirements ahead of time so that they can be moved more slowly by less carbon-intensive modes, such as sea freight. (Work is already underway in this area trying to increase speeds through hydrogen-powered shipping). 
• Sourcing or produce locally: Manufacture as much as possible in local markets to reduce the overall movement of goods. 
• Inventory management: Make improvements to stock control to ensure fewer, bigger loads; instead of multiple smaller shipments. 
• Green energy: Increase use of low-carbon vehicles, such as electric or hydrogen-powered trucks. Seek out alternative carbons that emit less CO2, and vehicles with more powerful engines and better traction to reduce overall fuel use. 
• Consider alternative modes: Increase use of river and rail transport. Currently rail is barely 5% of national transport, with an ambition to reach 10% by 2030. River transport, which is a developing area, now accounts for only around 4% a year. 
• Capacity: Where roads must be used, try to ensure trucks are full to maximise capacity. 

 “Some of these are levers that we hope will be available in 2035 to solve the carbon and economic equation for transport; while others are available today.” 

Calculate carbon use 

A key move that assists companies along this journey to change, is analysing their current emissions, says Brachini. “Doing the maths results in awareness,“ he says. “Some have not yet done this exercise, or at least not for Scope 3 emissions (the CO2 suppliers generate on their behalf), which is concerning. And for those that have done some simple arithmetic, there is the opportunity to go further and gain a more accurate picture.” 

As well as tracking sea, air and road freight on behalf of shippers and carriers, Wakeo has developed a carbon footprint overlay to its solution. This means it can measure the carbon footprint of all modes of transport used by customers door-to-door and deliver one source of truth. It helps them to evaluate from year-to-year, or even month-to-month, what different actions could or should be taken to make a positive change. 

It does this by taking into account masses of information. In the maritime environment alone, this covers everything from container weights to routes and ports used. All data is fed into its calculation engine, which is in accordance with European standards. 

“Each time a shipment arrives at its final unloading point, we will calculate the carbon footprint, sulphur oxides (SOX) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) and other gases, and give this information to our customers and to our customers’ customers through our platform,” says Brachini. 

“Measurement will allow benchmarking, comparison between the different modes, between different players in the same mode, and create emulation. That’s the first positive point,” says Soussan. The second, he added, is access to data in almost real time, which allows for a shorter reaction time. 

Brachini says they are able to help businesses consider both the long-term trends to make changes. Such as a switch from air to sea, as well as assist with more reactive short-term decisions such as whether or not a re-stock is required or products could or should be rerouted during transit to cut carbon.  

“This helps companies to bring the right product to the right place at the right time, and transport less, because the best carbon economy is when there is no transport.” 

• Watch the full webinar masterclass and get in touch to find out more about how Wakeo can help to decarbonise your supply chain.