Sustainability has become a permanent and essential part of companies’ operations. At the core of environmental responsibility is the calculation of carbon footprint, which companies are increasingly undertaking. HUB logistics has developed a CO2 transaction calculator alongside emission calculations. The calculation model provides a new perspective on logistics emissions. It offers valuable information to customers about the environmental impacts of their operations.
Involved in the development of the transaction calculator were Anssi Tura, Development Director at HUB logistics, and Sampo Arppola, QHSE Manager. According to Tura, current calculation models focus on determining general emission data. It leaves the detailed investigation of emissions origins relatively unaddressed.
– We understand that emission calculation and management are complex issues. Many companies struggle with the same questions. General calculation is increasingly being done, but emission calculation has not delved into how emissions produced by one pallet position are calculated. Our CO2 transaction calculator is designed to meet this need for information.
The development of the calculator was a lengthy process based on rigorous research and a master’s thesis on the subject. During the process, it was observed that although research on green warehousing is increasing, concrete information on emission modeling and allocation has been less available.
– During the research, we found that research and emission allocation based on this principle are really scarce. The focus currently appears to be on calculating general emissions data and trying to reduce emissions at a general level. Less attention is paid to which operations cause the emissions. However, one common goal for companies is to reduce emissions, which we also aim for. So our goal was to create a model that can assess carbon dioxide emissions for different transactions. Thus we can provide our customers with accurate information about the environmental impacts of their operations, summarizes Tura.
The CO2 transaction calculator provides more precise emission data to our customers
In the CO2 transaction model, the calculation model was framed into six parts based on different processes, such as incoming material flow, warehousing, and value-added services. The model was deliberately kept simple for clarity and manageability. The model enables determining how carbon dioxide emissions are distributed among different warehousing processes.
The emission data is provided to HUB logistics’ customers annually. The future goal would be to be able to delve into more detailed monthly data. Tura and Arppola see that providing more detailed data to industrial logistics customers could mean the distribution of emissions by different halls or services. In timber packaging services, more detailed specification work could mean the breakdown of emission data by product.
– In our sustainability work, we focus on collaboration with our customers. We organize workshops where we go through emission data together and look for potential reduction targets. Additionally, it is possible to integrate emission data into BI reports to provide our customers with real-time information on emissions and their development, says Tura.
– We believe that companies aiming for zero emissions and to develop their operations will find added value in such calculation for their business. If you don’t analyze and track data at a more detailed level, you won’t get to the root causes. Providing accurate information on emissions and their development helps our customers achieve their goals, Tura continues.
Collaboration on a concrete level means development suggestions for daily choices. The development suggestions we offer may relate to both materials used and processes. Sampo Arppola sees that even small choices matter.
– Could alternative packaging materials or lighter transport models be sufficient if they offer significant opportunities to reduce emissions and promote a sustainable environment? These are definitely value choices worth considering, which companies will have to weigh and make in the future.
Systematic and sensible sustainability work
With growing reporting requirements, there will be increasing demand for more accurate emissions data in the future. According to Anssi Tura, the CO2 transaction calculator is a crucial step toward more responsible logistics.
– We are at the forefront of providing data in the field of sustainability. We have our eyes firmly set on the future, and the transaction calculator is an advanced tool for identifying emissions from logistics processes at the shipment level. By offering our customers precise information about emissions, we help them make better and more sustainable choices in their business operations.
The development and implementation of HUB logistics’ own sustainability program is part of the company’s long-term sustainability work for more sustainable and greener logistics. Sustainability is part of HUB’s strategy, and the program guides employees to make responsible and sustainable choices. The program brings together essential themes under which objectives and measures have been established, making it possible to monitor and evaluate operations.
– We want to offer our customers the best possible service in the field of sustainability and help them achieve their emission targets. We continue our development work and constantly look for new ways to reduce our environmental impact, summarizes Sampo Arppola.
>> Read more about our sustainability work
