Charles Dubouix
OVRSEA CO2 dashboard methodology
- OVRSEA CO2 dashboard methodology
- CO2e Emissions
- OVRSEA uses EcoTransIT for two reasons
- OVRSEA calculates your CO2 emissions at three key stages of transportation
- CO2 Calculation Methodology at OVRSEA
- What is Well-To-Wheel?
- Two Reasons to Calculate Emissions in WTW
- Carbon Intensity
- Formula of the carbon intensity
- The Eco-Freight Score
- Background & Challenge
- Objectives
- What’s next?
- Identify ways to reduce your carbon intensity
CO2e Emissions
Since 2019, OVRSEA uses the EcoTransIT World methodology to calculate the WTW (Well-To-Wheel) CO2e emissions of the transports we have operated .
OVRSEA uses EcoTransIT for two reasons
- State-of-the-art CO2 calculation for freight: the methodology, developed by independent scientific institutes, is trusted by numerous leading freight forwarders, carriers, and shippers, and can be applied to any mode of transport.
- A methodology aligned with international standards (GLEC, EN 16258, GHG Protocol, and ISO 14083).
OVRSEA calculates your CO2 emissions at three key stages of transportation
- ⏳ At the quotation request stage – you can then weigh various alternatives.
- 🛫 At departure of the ship/plane – the route and cargo are generally known at this point.
- 🏁 Upon arrival – disruptions are not uncommon in the industry, and the recorded data reflects the actual conditions of your transport.
CO2 Calculation Methodology at OVRSEA
1️⃣ OVRSEA divides the transport process into segments: pre-carriage / main freight / post-carriage.
2️⃣ For each segment, OVRSEA sends a request to the EcoTransIT API specifying:
- Cargo details (# containers, weight, refrigeration, etc.)
- Actual route (including transshipments or layovers)
- Mode of transport (air, sea, road, rail, barge)
- Type of vehicle (linked to flight number / IMO number)
3️⃣ EcoTransIT subdivides each segment into transit zones:
4️⃣ EcoTransIT calculates CO2e emissions for each identified segment based on the energy requirements for the specified route and cargo.
4️⃣ OVRSEA aggregates the results from each segment to obtain the total CO2e emissions for the entire transport.
What is Well-To-Wheel?
- Well-to-Tank: the CO2e emitted when energy is produced and conveyed;
- Tank-to-Wheels: CO2e emitted by the motor itself (e.g. burning petrol for a diesel car);
- Well-to-Wheel : Well-to-Tank + Tank-to-Wheels.
Two Reasons to Calculate Emissions in WTW
Carbon Intensity
Formula of the carbon intensity
Formula for a given shipment the carbon intensity is:
where
- = shipment CO2e emissions (EcoTransIT output), in grams
- = cargo weight, in tons
- = shipment distance as the crow flies, in kms
The formula for your total carbon intensity is:
where is the number of shipments (of OVRSEA or the client, depends on what carbon intensity you want to measure).
Example of carbon intensity calculation Let's take a client whose warehouse is located in Paris and wants to export one ton of goods to Shanghai (China). They are considering between air or sea shipping.
We calculate (using EcoTransIT) the CO2e emissions in tons of transportation, including pre- and post-shipment, and considering the actual distances traveled by the considered modes of transport (in this case, twice as much for sea shipping compared to air shipping). We obtain:
- 6.8 tons of CO2e with air freight
- 0.15 tons of CO2e with sea freight (LCL).
The straight-line distance (as the crow flies) is approximately 9,250 km.
We conclude that:
There is a 1-45 ratio between these two options.
The Eco-Freight Score
Introducing the Eco-Freight Score – a tool for a sustainable future. This innovative solution categorizes the environmental impact of freight transportation into five clear groups from A to E, with A being the least and E the most impactful.
Our score measures carbon intensity, presenting the environmental impact of transports as grams of CO2e emissions per ton-kilometer (gCO2e / t.km). This enables easy comparison of carbon efficiency across different transport options, regardless of distance, cargo weight, or transport mode.
The Eco-Freight Score offers transparency and accountability, aligning business choices with environmental responsibility. It’s not just a tool—it's a step towards a more sustainable future, enabling us to balance economic growth with the wellbeing of our planet.
Background & Challenge
According to the OECD ITF Transport Outlook, freight transport accounted for a worrying 7% of global CO2 emissions, rising to over 11% when ports and warehouses are included. Urgent action is required. In order to achieve the Paris Agreement's objectives, freight emissions must be slashed by 64% from 2015 levels by 2050.
Yet, even in an optimistic scenario where all announced environmental policies are implemented, OECD forecasts indicate a 22% increase in freight emissions by 2050. This disparity is due to the predicted surge in demand, expected to more than double.
To meet our targets, we need an 84% reduction in freight's carbon intensity from 2015 levels by 2050. This measurement is based on CO2 emissions per ton transported and kilometer traveled.
Achieving substantial reduction in freight's carbon impact is possible today through altered behaviors and transportation models. The first step involves clear information about transport's environmental impacts throughout the value chain.
Objectives
The Eco-Freight Score aspires to be the industry wide decision-making tool that steers our transport choices towards a more sustainable system.
The objectives pursued by the Eco-Freight Score are:
- Making the carbon impact of transport more visible;
- Promoting virtuous transport offers;
- Encouraging committed industry players;
- Generating discussions and stimulate cooperation between shippers and freight forwarders;
- Stimulating competition based on sustainability;
What’s next?
Identify ways to reduce your carbon intensity
Good news : decarbonization levers are already available for you ! Let’s seize them together.
Two conclusions to be drawn :
- there is no silver bullet when it comes to freight decarbonation
- the best lever is the one the most adapted to your current supply chain and your constraints.
2️⃣ OVRSEA measures gains and trade-offs in CO2e, cost, and transit time.
3️⃣ OVRSEA supports you in engaging your teams in the jointly developed decarbonization strategy—for instance, through initiatives like the Fresque du Fret.
4️⃣ OVRSEA ensures operational excellence in the implementation of the selected measures.
- your sales representative
- our decarbonization expert team