The Role of Data in Reducing Supply Chain Carbon Emissions
In partnership with Zencargo.
Transport is responsible for as many as 24% of total greenhouse gas emissions with road freight, shipping and air being the largest contributors. The need to take climate action is evident, but what can you do to actively lower supply chain carbon emissions without impacting performance? The answer lies in effective data and analytics.
Data enables supply chains to be more transparent and efficient. Not only does it allow for easy monitoring of business goals, but it also highlights where productivity could be improved. It is key to reaching carbon emission targets while improving brand reputation, consumer satisfaction and supply chain performance.
What makes carbon data ‘reliable’?
‘Carbon calculators’ have been available for a number of years now, and they have been used to understand the impact businesses are having on the environment. But they’ve been criticised for yielding poor or inaccurate data.
Pledge understands that businesses need reliable data to build credible sustainability strategies and is committed to leveraging the most accurate data available. The platform calculates emissions in adherence to the strictest methodologies and standards. Any carbon data must be measured and categorised in accordance with a range of established standards, including the GHG Protocol, ISO 14000, and methodologies such as the GLEC framework and ICAO.
Pledge’s platform is accredited by SFC (Smart Freight Centre), the developers of the GLEC framework. The platform also aligns with other globally-recognised calculation methodologies such as those listed above.
Why is carbon data fundamental to any carbon reduction strategy?
It is no secret that there is growing pressure for customers to become more sustainable. Businesses planning to reduce or remove emissions need to first know how much carbon they are producing, before they can start working on reducing. Success in this arena first relies on a strong foundation built on actionable and insightful data.
Without a footing underpinned by data, it’s impossible to understand which activities are having the biggest impact. Effective carbon footprint measurement built on data enables businesses to put a stake in the ground, understand their emissions and work towards achieving their reduction and offsetting objectives while being able to demonstrate quantifiable, transparent results. A data view makes it easier to adapt to changes and continuously aggregate without compromising supply chain performance.
These continuous improvements could include:
Consolidation of shipments
Optimisation of low-carbon routes
Reduction of dwell time
Zencargo & Pledge are working together to support customers in building a sustainable future
Pledge is integrated into the Zencargo platform to allow businesses to access reliable, accurate and real-time data. This allows Zencargo customers to make more sustainable decisions and design sustainable strategies to benefit the business and its consumers.
Pledge provides the ability to aggregate emissions data across every trade lane, supplier and product, and by any mode of transport (road, air, sea, rail) to provide a CO2 measurement for every shipment. This granular visibility allows customers to make smarter, data-driven decisions at a shipment-by-shipment level. Pledge has also created a carbon offsetting marketplace to provide access to high quality carbon offsets from a range of project types that meet different price points.
What happens when emissions can’t be reduced further?
Most businesses will ultimately encounter unavoidable emissions that can’t be eliminated using carbon reduction strategies. Once reduction measures have been decided, they need to look into offsetting through carbon removal or prevention projects i.e. projects that remove CO2 from the atmosphere or reduce the amount from being released in the first place.
Pledge’s offsetting projects are rigorously vetted by independent registries like Verra and Gold Standard; and their fractional approach lets businesses build balanced portfolios of verified projects that encompass a range of projects and technologies. And, thanks to the data driven insights, they are provided with an accurate figure that allows them to offset up to 100% of their entire supply chain’s carbon footprint.