News / The Loadstar teams up with Smart Freight Centre to help cut emissions in supply chains

© Jakgapong Pengjank

The Loadstar has become the first media partner of the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC), with the aim of helping freight organisations and their customers put climate commitments into practice.

Managed by global non-profit organisation Smart Freight Centre, GLEC is a voluntary partnership with more than 150 companies, associations, programmes and experts – and now media.

Smart Freight Centre was set up to drive emission reduction and enhance efficiency across global logistics supply chains; GLEC works to develop guidelines and tools that work for business.

“We’ve made it easier for companies to decarbonise their own or outsourced logistics in four simple steps: report emissions, set targets, reduce emissions by implementing concrete solutions, and collaborate with partners and stakeholders,” said Sophie Punte, Smart Freight Centre’s executive director.

The best-known industry guideline that was first released in 2016 is the GLEC Framework – the only globally recognised methodology to calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions consistently across the multi-modal logistics supply chain.

“The GLEC Framework really helps companies to understand their logistics GHG footprint, and more confidently set science-based targets and identify improvement opportunities,” says Alan Lewis, co-author and Smart Freight Centre’s technical director. More than 100 multinationals are already using the GLEC Framework, and it is a basis for a new ISO standard that will come out in 2022.

The Loadstar has committed itself to help GLEC reach shippers that have struggled to account for their GHG emissions due to the lack of a common and workable methodology.

The Loadstar’s publisher, Alex Lennane, said: “The vast majority of our readers work for either freight forwarders or the carriers. They are finding their customers are asking much more about their sustainability performance as part of the logistics procurement process. The Loadstar wants to ensure its readers are ready to respond to increasing pressure from both their customers as well as regulators.

“The IMO regulations that came into force in January show the importance of being prepared for a future where polluting our environment is no longer acceptable.”

“Smart Freight Centre is constantly releasing new guidelines and tools to help companies reduce emissions,” explained Eszter Toth-Weedon, Smart Freight Centre’s senior partnerships manager for GLEC.

“Examples are target-setting guidelines for transport, an introductory guide on low emission fuels and vehicles, and procurement guidelines including a standard list of questions that customers can use to screen suppliers. We need media partners with significant global profile like The Loadstar to support the uptake of these guidelines around the world.”

By joining forces, Smart Freight Centre and The Loadstar can accelerate the uptake of more sustainable freight practices by companies worldwide, benefiting their bottom lines as well as contribute to our common climate goals of the Paris Agreement.