Adonis backs FTA’s Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme

Monday 15 February 2010

Lord Adonis, the Secretary of State for Transport, has backed a new scheme from the Freight Transport Association to report the logistics sector’s carbon footprint publicly.

In a letter to FTA confirming the Department for Transport’s support for the Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS), Adonis acknowledged the need to reduce carbon emissions from logistics – which accounts for 30 per cent of overall domestic transport emissions, the majority coming from the road sector – as an important part of the DfT’s Carbon Reduction Strategy.

Rachael Dillon, FTA’s Climate Change Manager, said:

“We are grateful to the DfT for its support and for recognising the importance of the Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme and its potential for identifying a credible reduction target for the logistics sector that we can all work towards.

“Together with the DfT we will develop a robust and consistent carbon measurement and reporting method that will be fair, accurate and eminently useful in the interests of mitigating the sector’s environmental impact.”

The LCRS aims to record, report and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the logistics sector. It already has the backing of some of FTA’s leading members, which together operate over 23,000 commercial vehicles.

Under the scheme, LCRS members will be committed to submit their fuel data to FTA for analysis to provide an accurate picture of the logistics sector’s carbon footprint. This will allow government to base its carbon reduction policy on hard evidence.

The LCRS is available to all operators of commercial vehicles. Interested companies can contact rdillon@fta.co.uk to find out more.

Notes for editors

Members of FTA’s Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme comprise:

3663
Arla Foods
Boots
CEVA Logistics
DHL Supply Chain
EDF Energy
John Lewis Partnership
Kuehne and Nagel
Norbert Dentressangle
P&O Ferrymasters
Warburtons
Wolseley

FTA will report its first data collection cycle in January 2011, and every twelve months thereafter.

A report by Heriot Watt University recently revealed that CO2 emissions from the logistics industry had risen by just ten per cent between 1990 and 2005, 20 per cent less than previous Government estimates.

In 2007, FTA launched its first guidance to members on managing carbon emissions in the form of an updatable manual and supporting services branded Carbonfta. The guidance advocates the development of carbon management plans by members and sets out how to record, report and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from road transport operations. 
 

FTA Press Office

01892 552255
press.office@fta.co.uk