To report logistics emissions, shippers need shipment-level data from every logistics provider: origin, destination, mode, weight and, ideally, carrier or vessel. The slow part is rarely the calculation. It is chasing and reformatting files that arrive in different shapes. Accepting each provider's existing format, then validating and standardising it, removes most of that work.

What data you need from each logistics provider

For each shipment, ask for:

• Origin and destination
• Transport mode, for each leg
• Weight, or volume such as TEU
• Shipment date
• Carrier, plus vessel name or flight number where available

The GHG Protocol's guidance for Scope 3 category 4 sets out three methods. The fuel-based method is the most accurate for CO₂, because fuel burned relates directly to emissions. The distance-based method uses the mass, distance and mode of each shipment. The spend-based method is a fallback for screening, with high uncertainty.

The fields above support the distance-based method. Carrier and vessel details let a calculation model the actual ship or aircraft, which is why averages make every carrier look the same.

Where the days and weeks go

The fields are simple. Collecting them takes the time. One forwarder sends a monthly spreadsheet. A carrier replies with a PDF. Another provider exports from its TMS, with its own column names, units and date formats. Someone has to stitch it together, fill the gaps and check the totals.

Erik Stadigh, CEO and co-founder of Lune, sees the same pattern with shippers: chasing and cleaning data from logistics providers takes days to weeks before anything is reportable.

Why a template makes it worse

The standard advice is to send every logistics provider a template. In Erik's view, that moves the reformatting onto your providers, and many never get round to it. Each one has to map its own export into your columns. Some do. Some fill half of it. Some send their usual file anyway. You are back to chasing, with an extra round of emails.

How data gets in without templates

With gryn by Lune, providers and shippers keep the formats they already use. Lune engages your logistics providers so they upload their shipment data directly. Providers with the systems for it can connect by API. Your own team can also upload files in whatever spreadsheet format you already have.

The data is then validated and standardised to the GLEC Framework, and deviations are flagged so they can be fixed before they reach a report.

From one clean dataset to a report

Once every file sits in one standard shape, each business unit's shipments roll up into one group view. From there you get Scope 3 reporting and a clear picture of the carriers, lanes and modes that drive your footprint.

"Through gryn by Lune our emissions data collection got effortless." (Julia, Project Manager Global Logistic, ASMPT)

gryn by Lune collects shipment data from every logistics provider, in the formats they already use. Calculations are certified by Smart Freight Centre as ISO 14083 compliant, so every figure can be explained in an audit.

How many of your logistics providers sent last year's data in the same format?

See gryn by Lune for enterprise shippers

FAQ

What data do I need from logistics providers for Scope 3 category 4?

Shipment-level origin, destination, mode, weight and date. Carrier, vessel or flight details improve accuracy. Fuel data is the most specific input where providers have it (GHG Protocol Chapter 4).

Do logistics providers have to use my template?

With gryn by Lune, no. Providers and shippers can upload the spreadsheets they already have, and the data is validated and standardised afterwards.

What if a logistics provider can't share shipment data?

The GHG Protocol sets a fallback order. If fuel data is unavailable, use the distance-based method with mass, distance and mode. If those are missing too, the spend-based method multiplies the amount spent on each transport type by spend-based emission factors. It is useful for screening, with high uncertainty.

Why does logistics emissions data collection take so long?

Shipment data is spread across many logistics providers and formats, so most of the time goes on chasing and cleaning files before any calculation starts.