The international shipping and trade industry accounts for a significant amount of greenhouse gases, almost 3% of global GHG emissions. With the increase in reliance on global trade for products and services, these emissions may only increase over time. The quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions arising from transport chain operations have become increasingly important in addressing climate change concerns. 

In response to the need for a standardised approach to emissions accounting and reporting in the logistics industry, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced ISO 14083 in March 2023, after three and a half years of preparation. This new standard is set to become the global industry guideline for logistics emission accounting and reporting across multimodal supply chains.

ISO 14083 replaces the existing European Standard EN 16258, which is expected to be withdrawn by the end of 2023. The introduction of ISO 14083 is a significant step towards harmonising GHG emissions reporting practices in the logistics sector worldwide.

ISO 14083 is also aligned with various other established standards and frameworks, including the ISO 14064 series for Corporate Carbon Footprint, ISO 14067 for Product Carbon Footprint, ISO 14040 and 14044 for Life Cycle Assessment, as well as  with international initiatives like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GHG Protocol, and GLEC Framework. By aligning with these existing frameworks, ISO 14083 ensures consistency and compatibility across different sustainability reporting requirements.

‍Content of ISO 14083

The content of ISO 14083 encompasses comprehensive requirements and guidance for the quantification and reporting of GHG emissions associated with transport chains for both passengers and freight. It applies to all modes of transportation, including land, water, and air, as well as transportation hubs such as ports for both freight and passengers.

One of the key contents of ISO 14083 is its guidance on GHG-emission calculation, which establishes concrete quantification steps for calculating GHG emissions related to transport chain operations. The standard breaks down the transport chain into discrete and sequential components known as "Transport Chain Elements" (TCEs). Each TCE is associated with a specific transport or hub operation, which is further categorised into a Transport Operation Category (TOC) or a Hub Operation Category (HOC). TOCs and HOCs serve as reference points for calculating GHG emissions, as emission intensities are determined for each respective category.

TOCs and HOCs within a TCE are defined as "a group of operations sharing similar characteristics in a defined time period." To calculate GHG emissions for a transport chain, the emissions for each TCE must be calculated based on the transport activities and emission intensities corresponding to the specific TOC or HOC. The standard allows for the calculation of transport activity distances using either the Great Circle Distance (GCD) or the Shortest Feasible Distance (SFD). 

In addition to quantification, ISO 14083 includes requirements for GHG reporting at both the organisational and transport service level. It includes examples of reporting details specifically tailored to freight transport and offers information and a template for transparent reporting using modelled or default GHG emission intensities. The annex of ISO 14083 contains mode of transport-specific requirements and recommendations, further enhancing the standard's applicability across diverse transport modes.

ISO 14083 is a significant development in the global logistics industry, aiming to provide a standardised approach to quantifying and reporting GHG emissions across multimodal supply chains. By promoting consistency and transparency in emissions accounting, this standard will contribute to the efforts to mitigate climate change and drive sustainable practices within the logistics sector.

For companies involved in the shipping industry, it is vital to stay up-to-date with new standards and regulations. To learn more, book a call with our GRYN expert today for more information on how your business suits current and new ISO standards.  

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