Green logistics: certify carbon footprint measurement with CO2rate

Sustainable logistics has become a priority: starting from January 1st 2025, European regulations impose stringent requirements for the measurement, reporting and communication of CO₂ emissions generated by the transportation of goods. The aim is climate neutrality by 2050, acccording to the European Green Deal.

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In a context such as the Supply Chain sector, where demands for greater sustainability are increasingly insistent and European regulations (CSRD, EU ETS, Green Deal) are becoming stricter, it is essential to adopt advanced systems for measuring carbon footprint and reporting corporate green efforts.

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CO2rate by Leviahub, together with the dedicated shipping and transport management software, represents the ideal solution to:

• effectively manage CO₂ emissions from freight transport, complying with European regulations;
• optimise green logistics processes by integrating them into operational flows;
• achieve a competitive advantage thanks to a certified “green” positioning.

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European regulations and transparency obligations

The Green Deal and European regulations demand a deep transformation: companies must demonstrate their carbon footprint with objective data, using certified tools such as CO2rate.

The combination of digitalisation and sustainable logistics is now a competitive lever and a means of regulatory compliance.

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CSRD Directive and reporting obligations

The CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) has been transposed into Italian legislation by two Legislative Decrees, with the aim of standardising data for greater transparency and comparability of environmental performance:

• Legislative Decree No. 125 of 6 September 2024: introduces the obligation to report sustainability information, extending scope to all large companies and listed SMEs, excluding micro-enterprises. It requires detailed information on strategy, governance, ESG policies and environmental impacts, adopting the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and introducing limited assurance for verifying the information.‍
• Legislative Decree No. 147 of 10 September 2024: amends the national emissions trading system, extending its scope to maritime transport and strengthening provisions for air transport.

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EU ETS system and freight transport

The EU ETS (European Emissions Trading System), introduced in 2005, has been strengthened and amended in Italy by Legislative Decree No. 147 of 10 September 2024 to include new sectors such as maritime and road transport (via the ETS 2 Committee).

Accurate carbon footprint measurements are becoming indispensable for operating in a certified sustainable logistics context.

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Calculating carbon footprint in freight transport

Calculating CO₂ emissions from transport becomes a fundamental tool to:

• compare environmental performance across different transport modes such as road, rail, sea and air;
• precisely calculate the carbon footprint of each freight shipment;
• support strategic decisions in green logistics, choosing lower-emission modes to improve Supply Chain sustainability.

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Official standards for calculating CO₂ emissions in freight transport

The calculation requires internationally recognised standards. Among them, ISO 14083:2023, the GHG Protocol, and the GLEC Framework are key references.

These rely on four fundamental principles: traceability, verifiability, transparency and repeatability of data (unique journey ID, loading and unloading locations, transport mode, vehicle type, cargo weight). The aim is to ensure accurate and certified carbon footprint measurements across the entire logistics chain.

Companies operating freight transport at scale must collect and transmit certified carbon footprint data to their clients, so that they can integrate it into their sustainability reports and comply with European environmental regulations.

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CO2rate by Leviahub: real‑time carbon footprint measurement

CO2rate by Leviahub is an advanced tool for carbon footprint calculation, enabling companies to abandon manual methods in favour of integrated, certified digital solutions.

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Advantages of CO2rate by Leviahub

Integrating CO2rate, Leviahub’s CO₂ measurement software, into Supply Chain processes delivers significant competitive advantages:

• real-time measurement of emissions for each trip or shipment;
• secure and transparent data storage;
• compliance with GHG Protocol, ISO 14083 and GLEC standards;
• generation of certified reports, essential for preparing sustainability reports and strengthening “green brand” positioning;
• full alignment with European regulations (CSRD, EU ETS, Green Deal);
• credible certification of CO₂ emissions to enhance ROI on ESG and reputational initiatives;
• strategic support for developing sustainable logistics processes with precise, verifiable and easily shareable data.

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Why choose Leviahub and CO2rate?

The CO2rate carbon footprint calculation software ensures your transport company benefits from:

• precision: real-time emissions data categorised according to international standards;
• reliability: certified reports, ready for sustainability audits and reporting;
• automation: instant data transmission and storage, ensuring zero errors;‍
• sustainability: improved environmental impact and strengthened corporate ESG profile.

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CO₂ in freight transport – Q&A

1. What new European regulations are affecting the freight transport sector in relation to CO₂ emissions?

Starting from January 1, 2025, companies operating in the freight transport sector will be subject to new European regulatory obligations. These obligations, part of the broader framework of EU climate policies aimed at achieving climate neutrality by 2050, concern the measurement, reporting, and disclosure of CO₂ emissions generated by transport activities.

These regulations are based on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the enhancement of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). In Italy, the CSRD has been transposed into national law through Legislative Decrees No. 125 of September 6, 2024, and No. 147 of September 10, 2024.

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2. What is the CSRD Directive and what are its main objectives?

The CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) was adopted by the European Union in November 2022 with the aim of strengthening sustainability reporting obligations for companies. It represents an evolution of the previous Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), with the goal of increasing transparency and comparability of sustainability data and enhancing the quality of non-financial information made available to stakeholders.

The directive requires companies to measure and disclose greenhouse gas emissions, including CO₂, in accordance with GHG Protocol standards.

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3. How are greenhouse gas emissions classified according to the GHG Protocol?

The GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol) is the most widely used international standard for measuring, managing, and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. It classifies emissions into three main categories:

• Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organization (e.g., fuel used by company-owned vehicles);
• Scope 2: Indirect emissions from the consumption of purchased energy (e.g., electricity);
• Scope 3: Other indirect emissions resulting from external activities along the value chain (e.g., outsourced transport, packaging, office-related emissions).

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4. What standards and calculation principles are required for CO₂ emissions measurement?
For the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions in transport, reference must be made to the ISO 14083:2023 standard. The fundamental principles that must be followed include:

• traceability: each calculation must have a unique identification ID;
• verifiability: the data must be demonstrable to third parties (clients, authorities, etc.);
• transparency: complete documentation of sources, assumptions, and emission factors must be available;
• repeatability: the calculations must be reviewable over time or by an independent auditor, yielding the same results.

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6. What minimum data is required to calculate CO₂ emissions for each transport activity?

Each transport activity (shipment or trip) must be accompanied by a set of mandatory minimum data required for the calculation of CO₂ emissions, including:

• unique identifier: the specific code of the transport mission;
• departure and arrival locations: necessary to determine the distance travelled;
• mode of transport: the predominant transport mode (e.g., road, air, sea);
• type of vehicle: detailed specification of the vehicle used;
• weight transported: the total weight of the goods carried.

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7. How can companies comply with new carbon footprint calculation regulations and what tools are available?
Companies must implement IT and management systems capable of collecting shipment data, automatically calculating emissions and generating certified annual emission statements for clients.

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Tools such as Leviahub’s CO2rate are designed for real-time CO₂ measurement, transparent data tracking, client certification and detailed ESG reporting – fully compliant with GHG, ISO 14083 and GLEC standards, surpassing the limitations of manual solutions.