Part I - p. 1
Green Logistics Method
Ecological assessment
of logistics services
Status: version 1.0, 31.03.2015
Part I - p. 2
Introduction
The Green Logistics method for the ecological assessment of logistics services is the collaboration
result of the project consortium »Green Logistics« as well as the specialist departments in the
respective companies and has been discussed with the stakeholder group of the Green Logistics
project.
The project is part of the EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr, sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of
Education and Research (BMBF) (Funding code 01IC10L06, http://www.green-logistics-network.de/).
In the following, the Green Logistics method’s procedure, formulas, assumptions and restrictions are
summarized.
An additional »Supplement« covers relevant parameters, emission and conversion factors,
classifications etc., to facilitate the application of the method.
Contact:
Kerstin Dobers
Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (project manager Green Logistics)
kerstin.dobers@iml.fraunhofer.de, tel. office: +49 231 9743 360
Joseph-von-Fraunhofer Str. 2-4, 44227 Dortmund, Germany, www.iml.fraunhofer.de
Part I - p. 3
Content
General framework
Procedure
Screening phase (step 1)
Calculation of emissions
Validation of scope
Allocation of emissions
Declaration
Annex
Supplement: Parameters of Green Logistics method
Part I - p. 4
Abbreviations
CH4 - Methane
LS - Logistics service
CL - Client
LSP - Logistics service provider
CO - Carbon monoxide
MEP - Mechanical Electrical Plumbing
CO2 - Carbon dioxide
NF3 - Nitrogen Trifluoride
CO2e - Carbon dioxide equivalent
N2O - Nitrous oxide
EI99 - eco-indicator 99
NOx - Nitrogen oxides
EU - European Union
OU - Organizational unit
ETS - Emissions Trading System
PFCs - Perfluorocarbons
GCD - Great circle distance
RFS - Road Feeder Service
Geo - Geographical unit
RORO - Roll-on Roll-of
GHG - Greenhouse gas
SF6 - Sulfur Hexafluoride
GWP - Global warming potential
SO2 - Sulfur dioxide
HC - Hydro carbons
TEU - Twenty-foot equivalent unit
HFCs - Hydrofluorocarbons
TTW - Tank-to-wheel
IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change
ULD - Unit load device
ISO - International organization for standardization
UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
LC - Life cycle
WTW - Well-to-wheel
LOLO - Lift-on Lift-off
Part I - p. 5
Symbols
Symbol
Unit
Explanation
Erklärung
Symbol
Unit
Explanation
Erklärung
𝐴
[m²]
Floor area
Grundfläche
𝑡𝑘𝑚
[tkm]
Transport
performance
Transportleistung
𝑐
[-]
Correction factor
Korrekturfaktor
𝑇
[d]
Time
Dauer
𝑑
[km]
Transport distance
Transportentfernung
𝑤𝑑
[-]
Working days
Arbeitstage
𝑒
[kg/…],
[MJ/…]
Specific emissions or
energy consumption
spezifische Emissionen
oder Energieverbrauch
𝑣
[km/h]
Speed
Geschwindigkeit
𝐸
[kg, MJ]
Emission or energy
consumption
Emission oder
Energieverbrauch
𝑉
[m3]
Volume
Volumen
𝐸𝐹𝐴
[kg CO2e/...]
Emission factor
Emissionsfaktor
%
[-]
Ratio
Anteil
𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚
[-]
Service item
Leistungsobjekt
𝛼
[-]
Allocation factor
refrigerated
(storage)
Allokationsfaktor gekühlter
Lager
𝛽
[-]
Allocation factor
order-picking
(storage)
Allokationsfaktor
Kommissionierung
𝛾
[-]
Allocation factor
refrigerated
transport
Allokationsfaktor gekühlter
Transport
𝑚
[kg]
Mass of goods
Warenbruttogewicht
𝑝𝑘𝑚
[pkm]
Passenger kilometer
Personenkilometer
𝑄
[kg], [l], [m²],
[m³], [kWh], ...
Quantity
Menge, Anzahl
𝑞
[kg/km],
[l/km],…
Specific quantity
spez. Menge
𝑅
[1/d]
Inventory turnover
ratio
Umschlaghäufigkeit
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘
[-]
Stock
Bestand
𝑠𝑡𝑝
[-]
Average number of
stop overs
Durchschnittliche Anzahl
an Zwischenlandungen
Part I - p. 6
Indices (1)
Index
Explanation
Erklärung
Index
Explanation
Erklärung
𝑎𝑜
𝑎𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑎𝑚𝑏
𝑎𝑖𝑟
𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑜
𝑎𝑢𝑥
𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒
𝑐
𝑐𝑎𝑟
𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑
𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝐶𝑂2 𝑒
Allokationsziel
Verwaltung
ungekühlt, trocken
Lufttransport
Automatisierungsgrad
ZusatzBinnenschifffahrt
Ladeeinheit
Autoreise
Papier, Pappe, Kartonage
Kundenebene
CO2-Äquivalente
Distributionsstandort inkl.
Kommissionieren
Vorgabewert
leer
𝑔
Goods, cargo
Ware, Transportgut
𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙
General
Übergeordnet
𝑔&𝑝
Goods and passenger
Fracht und Passagier
ℎ
Hour
Stunde
𝑖
Variable i
Variable i
𝑖𝑛𝑓
Infrastructure
Infrastruktur
𝑖𝑛𝑡
Internal process (Scope 1&2)
interner Prozess (Scope 1&2)
𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚
Service item
Leistungsobjekt
𝑗
Variable j
Variable j
𝑘
Variable k
Variable k
𝑘𝑚
Distance
Entfernung
𝑙𝑠
Logistics service
Logistikdienstleistung
𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑡
𝑒
Allocation objective
Administration
Ambient
Air transport
Level of automation
Auxiliary
Barge, inland water transport
Container
Travel by car
Cardboard
Client level
CO2 equivalents
Distribution center incl.
order-picking
Default value
Empty
𝑚
Material
Material
𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛
Main
Haupt-
𝑒𝑐
Energy carrier
Energieträger
𝑚𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑
Mixed
Gemischt
𝑒𝑐 (ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔)
Energy carriers for heating
Heizenergieträger
𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒
Transport mode
Verkehrsträger
𝑒𝑐 (𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟)
Energy carriers for others than
heating
Energieträger für
Nichtheizzwecke
𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖-𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑙
Multi-modal
Multi-modal
𝑒𝑖
𝑚𝑤
Material and waste
Material und Abfall
Environmental indicator
Umweltindikator
𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐
Electricity
Strom
𝑚²
Floor area
Grundfläche
𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 − 𝑚𝑖𝑥
Electricity-mix
Strommix
𝑚³
Volume
Volumen
𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑒
Employee
Mitarbeiter
𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
National
national
𝑒𝑥𝑡
External process (Scope 3)
externer Prozess (Scope 3)
𝑜𝑢𝑡
Outgoing goods/freight
Warenausgang
𝑑𝑐
Part I - p. 7
Indices (2)
Index
Explanation
Erklärung
Index
Explanation
Erklärung
𝑝 or
𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟
Person/passengers
(employees)
Person/Passagier
(Mitarbeiter)
(𝐴)
Calculation approach A
Berechnungsansatz A
𝑝𝑘𝑚
(𝐵)
Calculation approach B
Berechnungsansatz B
Passenger kilometer
Personenkilometer
𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒
Travel by plane
Flugreise
(𝐶)
Calculation approach C
Berechnungsansatz C
𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐
Plastics
Kunststoff
𝛼
𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙
Rail transport
Schienentransport
Allocation factor refrigerated
storage
Allokationsfaktor gekühltes
Lager
refr
Refrigerant, refrigerated
Kältemittel, gekühlt
𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑
Road transport
Straßentransport
∗
Extended by the allocated
general emissions
𝑠
Storage
Lagerung
Um die allokierten
übergeordneten Emissionen
erhöht
𝑠𝑒𝑎
Hochsee-, NearshoreSchifffahrt
Ø
Average
durchschnittlich
Sea, maritime transport
%
Ratio
anteilig
𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑡
Shunting
Rangieren
3.1
Allocation step 3.1
Allokationsschritt 3.1
𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
Logistics site
(transshipment/storage)
Logistikstandort
(Umschlag/Lager)
40 𝑡
Truck class 40 t
LKW-Klasse 40 t
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐
Unternehmensspezifisch
Transport
100%
100% full
100% gefüllt
𝑡
Company-specific
Transport
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
Total, sum
Gesamt, Summe
𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛
Travel by train
Zugreise
𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙
Travel
Reise
𝑡𝑠
Transshipment
Umschlag
𝑣
Vehicle type, transport means
Transportmittel
𝑤
Waste
Abfall
Part I - p. 8
Content
General framework
Procedure
Screening phase (step 1)
Calculation of emissions
Validation of scope
Allocation of emissions
Declaration
Annex
Supplement: Parameters of Green Logistics method
Part I - p. 9
Objective of
Green Logistics method
The overall objective is the realization of a method that
-
-
Allows the ecological comparison between logistics
service providers and, if necessary, among modes of
transport
Is pragmatic and substantiated at the same time (effort vs.
significance)
Considers the demands of the market, users, society and
policy
Provides information on optimization opportunities to
companies
Covers all relevant emissions of logistics services
Field of application (users)
-
Logistics service providers (LSP) for goods
Organizers of logistics services
Part I - p. 10
Basic principles of the
ecological assessment
Relevancy
Appropriate reflection of environmental indicators(1), such as emissions of
the considered logistics services
Completeness
Coverage of all sub-aspects relevant for logistics services
Sub-aspects which are not included shall be disclosed and reasons shall be
stated for their exclusion
Consistency
Consistent assessment allows meaningful performance tracking of
emissions over time
Changes in assessment scope, input data and other methodological issues
are likewise transparently documented
Transparency
All relevant issues are addressed to ensure a subsequent inspection
Relevant assumption procedures for data collection and data sources are
disclosed
Accuracy
Quantification of emissions is neither systematically above nor below reality
and uncertainties are reduced as far as practicable
Balancing on different level of detail is possible:
 Main drivers of emissions are calculated as exact as possible
 Processes with minor share are considered at a simplified balancing
level
(1)
The Green Logistics method offers an assessment framework for the
following environmental indicators: energy consumption; GHG, SO2, NOx,
CO, HC emissions.
Part I - p. 11
Emissions type
Direct emissions
Overview of the scopes (GHG Protocol)(1)
Scope
Definition
Examples
Scope 1
Emissions from operations that are owned
or controlled by the reporting company
Emissions from
combustion in owned or
controlled vehicles,
assets, boilers etc.;
emissions from loss of
refrigerant
Scope 2
Emissions from the generation of
purchased or acquired electricity, steam,
heating or cooling consumed by the
reporting company
Use of purchased
electricity, steam,
heating or cooling
Scope 3
All indirect emissions (not included in
scope 2) that occur in the value chain of
the reporting company, including both
upstream(2) and downstream(3) emissions
Sub-contracted
transportation,
production and
transportation of
purchased products
Indirect emissions
(1)
[Scope 3 Standard, Table 5.1]
(2)
Related to purchased or acquired goods and services
(3)
Related to sold goods and services
Part I - p. 12
Greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions
Definition of GHG emissions and data(1) (1)
In accordance with UNFCCC/ Kyoto Protocol/ GHG Protocol:
CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs(2)
Expressed by carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e); aggregated
and converted by using global warming potential (GWP) values
(100 years) as published by IPCC see »Supplement«
No additional radiative forcing is covered in case of air transport
Activity Data
Quantitative measurement on the level of activity that results in
GHG emissions; e.g., liters of fuel consumed or kilograms of
material purchased
Emission factor
Factor that converts activity data into GHG emissions data;
e.g., kg CO2e emitted per liter of fuel consumed
Use of life cycle emission factors, which include emissions that
occur in the life cycle of the material / product / fuel
(well-to-wheel (WTW) emission factors)
(1)
[Technical Guidance Scope 3, p. 14ff]
(2)
SF6 and NF3 are irrelevant for logistics services
Part I - p. 13
Primary data
Definition of GHG emissions and data(1) (2)
Data from specific activities within a company’s value chain
Including data provided by suppliers or others
Collected by e.g. meter readings, purchase records, utility bills,
direct monitoring, mass balance, or others including sampling
Secondary data
Data other than primary data including
 Industry-average-data (e.g., from published databases,
statistics, literature studies and industry associations)
 Financial data
 Proxy data(2)
(1)
[Technical Guidance Scope 3, p. 14ff]
(2)
In certain cases, companies may use specific data from one activity in the
value chain to estimate emissions for another activity in the value chain.
This type of data is considered proxy data (secondary data).
Part I - p. 14
Demarcation of assessment aspects
in logistics services (1)
Sub-aspect
Characteristics/alternatives
(examples)
Transport carried out on roads (own vehicle fleet, subcontractors); consideration of drive, additives, provisioning
of transportation means(1); upstream activities(2) for means
of transport, infrastructure, operating power
Tours between locations,
collection/distribution tours,
pre-/on-carriage of intermodal
transport (e.g., road feeder
service), (un-)refrigerated
Rail
transport
Transport carried out by rail (own trains, sub-contractors);
consideration of drive, additives, provisioning of
transportation means(1); upstream activities(2) for means of
transport, infrastructure, operating power
Short/long-distance traffic,
combined traffic (e.g. rolling
road), (un-)refrigerated
Inland
navigation
Transport carried out on inland water ways, (own ships, subcontractors); consideration of drive, additives, provisioning of
transportation means(1); upstream activities(2) for means of
transport, infrastructure, operating power
Ferries, RORO or LOLO
ships, (un-)refrigerated,
containers, piece goods (e.g.,
wind turbines)
Maritime
navigation
Maritime freight transport (own ships, sub-contractors);
consideration of drive, additives, provisioning of
transportation means(1); upstream activities(2) for means of
transport, infrastructure, operating power
High seas and short sea
shipping, RORO or LOLO
ships, (un-)refrigerated,
containers, bulk goods
Source
Road
transport
(1)
E.g. balance traffic
(2)
E.g. manufacturing of transportation means, supply of energy carriers
Part I - p. 15
Demarcation of assessment aspects
in logistics services (2)
Characteristics/alternatives
(examples)
Source
Sub-aspect
Air transport
Air freight transport (own aircrafts, sub-contractors);
consideration of drive, additives, provisioning of
transportation means(1); upstream activities(2) for means
of transport, infrastructure, operating power
Transport at a logistics site (e.g. yard logistics, tug drives
in the port, shunting); conveying, sorting, warehousing;
consideration of drive, energy, transport safety
measures, waste; upstream activities for operating
power, materials (own and external sites)
Logistics
sites
Freight only, belly freight, mail
transportation in passenger
aircrafts
With/without building shell,
(un-)refrigerated; warehouse,
distribution/trans-shipment
hub/center, mail/parcel center,
(intermodal) terminal, port
Administration
Energy demand for e.g. lighting, IT, heating/cooling
Employee
commuting
Transport of employees between home and work by
company-owned and employee-owned transportation
means, by public passenger transport
Business trips
Passenger transport carried out via road, rail, air, water
ways (company-owned, sub-contracted)
De-/centralized administration
Company car, private car,
public (train, bus, subway,
tramway), pedestrian, bike
Flight, company/rental car,
private car, public (train, bus,
subway, tramway), pedestrian,
bike
(1)
E.g. balance traffic
(2)
E.g. manufacturing of transportation means, supply of energy carriers
Part I - p. 16
Exclusion of sub-aspects
with no relevant
environmental impact for
logistics services(1)
Demarcation of assessment aspects
in logistics services (3)
Production of refrigerants, as well as, provision of dry ice
Cleaning processes of transportation means
Manufacturing and demolition of the building shell at logistics
sites or administration sites
Manufacturing processes of intralogistics systems
(e.g., conveyor technology)
Transport of airplanes by tow tractors
Sewage treatment at logistics sites
Home office activities of employees
Hotel accommodations on business trips
Further to be specified (optional)
(1)
[Green Logistics system definition 2012]
Part I - p. 17
Approach A
Consumption
based approach
Approach B
Distance based
approach
Approach C
Key figure based
approach
Basic calculation approaches and their
level of detail
Company-specific consumption data (e.g., fuel in liter, packing foil in kg,
electricity in kWh) is used for the calculation of emissions.
This is a detailed approach that requires the highest degree of data
collection and data analysis (primary data).
 Approach A is to be used by all company processes (scope 1/2),
external transportation and processes at external logistics sites
(scope 3) in the long-term.
Complementary approach for the area of transportation:
Use of company-specific data (e.g., composition of the fleet in use and
degrees of utilization) for the description of transport performance in
combination with database values.
 This approach is allowed for processes relating to scope 3.
Company-specific key figures are used for process description, e.g.,
transport performance on the road. These key figures are converted by
means of average emission factors, whereas industry averages for the
logistics services (e.g., used technology, average effectiveness of the
process) are taken as a basis.
 Approach C is used in the first step of Green Logistics method to
estimate the relevance of the emission sources.
 Approach C may only be applied in the actual assessment (step 2)
for less relevant sub-processes, scope 3 business trips and
employee commuting.
Part I - p. 18
Step 1
Background of selected level of detail of
ecological assessment
Screening phase
Industry average
Step 2
Is it a
scope 1/2 or a
relevant scope 3
process?
Approach C
no
yes
no
Is activity
data
on-hand?
no
Transport: Is
data on fleet
composition(1)
on-hand?
yes
yes
Approach B
Approach A
Green Logistics method defines a minimum standard, higher levels of detail are optional.
Company-specific
Reasons for a more detailed approach (i.e. more company-specific) e.g.,
- Detailed objectives of assessment results, allocation of emissions and reporting
(e.g., customer-specific)
- Expected impact of sub-aspects on overall results
- Options of influencing emissions of specific sub-aspects, monitoring of improvements
- Change in sub-contracted services/processes
- Requirements of stakeholders or shareholders
- Expected general business risks
(1)
E.g. vehicle classes, load factors