Downstream transportation and distribution emissions are the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the transport and distribution of materials and products from your organisation's tier 1 suppliers to your own operations in vehicles not owned or operated by you.
This includes emissions from various modes of transport, such as trucks, ships, trains, and planes, as well as energy used in warehouses and distribution facilities. Multiple downstream transportation and distribution calculation methods are available.
For Downstream transportation emissions, you can use:
The Distance and mass method calculates emissions based on distance, freight, vehicle type, and weight of mass transported. Usually you can gather this data from your transportation provider or your internal management systems. This is the recommended Downstream transportation calculation method as its the most accurate.
The Origin and destination and mass transported method uses the location of the transport's origin and destination, as well as the mass of goods transported, to calculate emissions. Your Supply Chain or Logistics Team typically manage records of transported goods, including freight types, and origin and destination.
The Origin and destination method uses the location of the origin and destination of the transport to calculate emissions. Your Supply Chain or Logistics Team typically manage records of transported goods, including freight types, and origin and destination.
The Distance method calculates emissions based on distance, freight, vehicle type, and fuel type used. Usually you can gather this data from your transportation provider or your internal management systems.
The Spend-based method calculates emissions based on the spend per transportation type. Usually, you can gather this data from your Finance department.
The Bring Your Own Emissions method allows you to upload your own pre-calculated emissions to the Plan A platform.
For Downstream distribution emissions, you can use:
The Logistic hubs: Average data method can be used to calculate emissions related to the movement of goods through logistic hubs (distribution centres) downstream. You will need data on the mass or area of goods transported, the type of freight used, the logistic hub type, and the temperature control required. Your Supply Chain or Logistics Team typically manage records of transported goods, including mass, freight types, and logistics modes.
The Spend-based method can also be used to calculate emissions based on the spend per warehousing and storage. Usually, you can gather this data from your Finance department.
The Bring Your Own Emissions method allows you to upload your own pre-calculated emissions to the Plan A platform.
If you can't access data in the required formats, or have data for business activities not captured in our templates, please take a look at our advice here.
Notes on spend-based data:
In your spend data, you may notice some negative figures, reflecting refunds. These should still be included in your data upload so that previously reported emissions relating to refunded goods can be deducted from your carbon balance accordingly. Negative spend data will be reflected as negative emissions values in the month the refund was given.