Book & Claim
Great news from the world of emissions accounting and reporting for the transport and logistics sector. The Smart Freight Centre (SFC), the leading international organization in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from freight transport, has just released a new framework that will revolutionize the way the demand for low-emission fuels is matched with supply.
Until now, the only way to prove the use of sustainable fuels in road freight transport was the physical fueling of truck tanks, posing immense challenges in positioning the right quantities where needed, alongside a high risk of fuel shortages.
The Book and Claim system—the name of this new methodology—moves past the concept that binds the physical use of sustainable fuel along predefined routes, recognizing the value of the transport company using low-emission fuels anywhere while claiming them based on demand.
Book and Claim has long been used in the aviation and maritime shipping industries for the flexible allocation of low-emission fuel shares to interested customers through the issuance of emission certificates. However, this methodology had not yet achieved international recognition, and no accounting tool existed to manage fuel allocation between suppliers and customers.
With this newly released framework, SFC has finally bridged the gap, delivering a consolidated methodology that will revolutionize sustainable logistics. The work performed by the international organization marks a major milestone toward achieving broader acceptance of international standards for emissions accounting and reporting, maintaining continuity with the commitments for drafting the new ISO 14083.
“This approach can play an important role in accelerating the rollout of biofuels, such as BioLNG, HVO, and zero-emission vehicles like electric or hydrogen ones, enabling us to bring sustainable solutions where it was previously not possible”
— Andrea Condotta, Public Affairs, Innovation and Sustainability Director at GRUBER Logistics.
GRUBER Logistics has always been at the forefront when it comes to investing in sustainable fuels, ever since 2019, when the first LNG trucks capable of running on BioLNG were introduced into its fleet. Today, the company takes a further step forward towards reducing road transport emissions by introducing the Book and Claim solution to facilitate the implementation of low-emission fuels in customers’ supply chains.
“We have created a chain of custody system to fully track the lifecycle of the fuel, from production and distribution through to refueling our trucks, guaranteeing our customers a net reduction in their carbon footprint.”
— Ettore Gualandi, Technical Expert at GRUBER Logistics.
However, the methodology is not free from potential risks of double counting and false claims by transport and logistics companies, posing a concrete risk of undermining the system’s reliability.
In this way, we at GRUBER Logistics have strengthened the system’s credibility by establishing a secure, transparent, and digitized registry to track consumption and proof of sustainability, where GRUBER Logistics acts as the sole player purchasing the fuel used in company trucks. Furthermore, the calculation and reporting of emissions relies on SFC’s well-recognized Global Logistics Emission Council Framework, ensuring consistency with the highest international standards for greenhouse gas reporting.
Book and Claim is already available to our customers, and we are proud to be one of the first carriers in Europe to guarantee direct booking and claiming of low-emission fuels for road transport.