TCI-IIMB lab's emission tracking tool achieves global certification

The TCI-IIMB Supply Chain Sustainability Lab at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB) has become the first organization in India to achieve ISO 14083 certification for its Transportation Emissions Measurement Tool. This milestone highlights the platform's ability to accurately measure and report greenhouse gas emissions from freight transportation, aiding organizations in meeting international sustainability reporting standards.

The transportation sector in India contributes approximately 14% of the nation's total GHG emissions, with freight transportation alone accounting for nearly 40% of these emissions. Projections indicate that without cleaner technologies and interventions, transportation emissions could quadruple by 2050, potentially reaching 1.17 billion tonnes of CO₂ and increasing the sector’s share in total emissions to 19%.

Accurate measurement of emissions is a critical first step toward mitigating these effects, and the TEMT provides a robust solution. Equipped with certified emissions factors applicable across various transport modes, the tool enables businesses to calculate and report emissions with precision, laying the groundwork for effective reduction strategies.

The ISO 14083 standard, developed by the International Organization for Standardization, offers a global framework for measuring emissions from transport operations. Covering road, rail, air, maritime, and inland waterways, it standardizes methods for calculating emissions from fuel combustion and electricity usage. The certification of TEMT ensures it aligns with these rigorous global guidelines, providing Indian organizations with a dependable platform to meet regulatory and sustainability goals.

In a significant development, the emissions factors API of the TEMT has been integrated into the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), an initiative by the Government of India. This integration allows logistics players to seamlessly calculate emissions from freight activities, fostering transparency and promoting sustainability within the logistics sector. According to NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited (NLDSL), the organization spearheading ULIP, the API enables companies to measure their carbon footprint effectively and explore actionable solutions such as transitioning to greener transport modes.

. Featuring India-specific emission factors validated under ISO 14083, the tool allows users to calculate emissions for past and planned shipments, compare emissions across transport modes, and customize transportation chains. All data is securely stored in the cloud, facilitating monthly tracking and year-over-year analysis. The platform is compatible with various shipment types and provides results in easily accessible PDF and CSV formats for reporting purposes.

The TCI-IIMB Supply Chain Sustainability Lab, established in 2023 in collaboration with Transport Corporation of India Ltd (TCI), conducts research and provides consulting services in sustainable supply chain management, with a focus on decarbonization of transportation and sustainable procurement. The lab continues to develop innovative solutions to drive sustainability within the logistics and supply chain sectors.