Transport accounts for a large part of most companies’ carbon footprint. In fact, transport accounts for about 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. This percentage does not include the energy consumption of production and infrastructure extension. In Denmark, the transport sector accounts for about 26% of CO2 emissions.
The Climate Compass divides transport activities into two areas:
• Company owned vehicles – both for goods and people.
• Contractor owned transport – i.e. transport by vehicles not owned by the
Contractor owned transport mainly relates to employee business travels and commuting. Transport of goods purchased from couriers such as FedEx, UPS, Post Danmark, hauliers, etc., is also included here (scope 3 in GHG Protocol).
The ownership of vehicles influences the company’s possibilities to reduce its carbon footprint from transport-related activities. For instance, the possibilities of reducing the carbon footprint depend on whether a company uses its own vehicles or uses a courier.
Danish Energy Agency, Energy Statistics, 2007
Danish Energy Agency, Potential Assessment, 2004
News from Statistics Denmark, no. 442, 2007