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Emissions Calculation Methodology

Carbonpunk uses a robust methodology to calculate the carbon emissions associated with your logistics operations. Our approach is based on industry standards and best practices for greenhouse gas accounting.

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Basic Calculation Formula

The fundamental formula used for calculating transport emissions is: 
Emissions (kg CO2e) = Activity Data × Emissions Factor
Where:
  • Activity Data represents the transportation activity, typically measured as weight (tons) × distance (km)
  • Emissions Factor is the amount of greenhouse gases emitted per unit of activity, specific to each transport mode

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Detailed Calculation Process

1

Data Collection

Carbonpunk collects essential shipment data including:
  • Origin and destination locations
  • Shipment weight
  • Transport mode
  • Date of shipment
  • Distance (if available)
2

Distance Calculation

If distance is not provided, Carbonpunk calculates it based on origin and destination coordinates using:
  • Great-circle distance for air transport
  • Road network distance for road transport
  • Rail network distance for rail transport
  • Shipping routes for sea transport
3

Emissions Factor Selection

The appropriate emissions factor is selected based on:
  • Transport mode (air, sea, road, rail)
  • Vehicle/vessel type (when available)
  • Fuel type (when available)
  • Region-specific factors (when applicable)
4

Emissions Calculation

The final calculation multiplies the activity data by the emissions factor:
  • For weight-based calculations: Weight (tons) × Distance (km) × Emissions Factor (kg CO2e/ton-km)
  • For volume-based calculations: Volume (m³) × Distance (km) × Emissions Factor (kg CO2e/m³-km)

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Transport Mode Specifics

Each transport mode has specific considerations in our emissions calculation methodology:
Calculation Specifics:
  • Includes radiative forcing effects (the additional climate impact of emissions at high altitude)
  • Considers aircraft type when available
  • Accounts for different emissions profiles for short, medium, and long-haul flights
  • Includes freight-specific load factors
Example Calculation: A 500 kg shipment traveling 2,000 km by air might use an emissions factor of 1.2 kg CO2e/ton-km:
0.5 tons × 2,000 km × 1.2 kg CO2e/ton-km = 1,200 kg CO2e
Calculation Specifics:
  • Varies by vehicle type (van, rigid truck, articulated truck)
  • Considers fuel efficiency and load factors
  • Accounts for regional differences in vehicle fleets
  • Includes empty running where applicable
Example Calculation: A 2-ton shipment traveling 300 km by truck might use an emissions factor of 0.1 kg CO2e/ton-km:
2 tons × 300 km × 0.1 kg CO2e/ton-km = 60 kg CO2e
Calculation Specifics:
  • Differentiates between electric and diesel traction
  • Considers regional electricity grid carbon intensity for electric trains
  • Accounts for load factors and train types
Example Calculation: A 10-ton shipment traveling 800 km by electric train might use an emissions factor of 0.03 kg CO2e/ton-km:
10 tons × 800 km × 0.03 kg CO2e/ton-km = 240 kg CO2e
Calculation Specifics:
  • Varies by vessel type (container ship, bulk carrier, etc.)
  • Considers vessel size and capacity utilization
  • Accounts for port operations where applicable
Example Calculation: A 20-ton shipment traveling 5,000 km by container ship might use an emissions factor of 0.015 kg CO2e/ton-km:
20 tons × 5,000 km × 0.015 kg CO2e/ton-km = 1,500 kg CO2e

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Emissions Factors Sources

Carbonpunk uses emissions factors from reputable sources, including:
  • GLEC Framework (Global Logistics Emissions Council)
  • DEFRA (UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
  • EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency)
  • EcoTransIT World
  • ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)
  • IMO (International Maritime Organization)
These factors are regularly updated to reflect the latest research and technological developments in the transport sector.

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Data Quality and Uncertainty

The accuracy of emissions calculations depends on the quality of input data:
Data Quality LevelDescriptionUncertainty Range
HighPrimary data with specific vehicle/vessel information±5-10%
MediumMode-specific data with standard emissions factors±10-25%
LowEstimated data with default values±25-50%
Carbonpunk strives to use the highest quality data available and clearly indicates the level of certainty in emissions calculations.

Transport Overview

Learn about different transport modes and their environmental impact

Data Import

Import the data needed for emissions calculations

Reports

Generate detailed emissions reports