FTA urges operators to join carbon reporting scheme

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is calling for operators to join its Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS), which aims to find a universal method for operators to report, measure and reduce carbon emissions.

The overall goal is to be able to provide an accurate picture of the logistics sector's carbon footprint so the government can base its carbon reduction policy on hard evidence.

The voluntary scheme is open to road transport firms of all sizes - not just FTA members - and is initially focusing on CO2 that arises from diesel fuel.

"If we can get our heads around diesel emissions and find a way to report, measure and reduce that, then we can extend it out to other areas such as refrigerated gases," says James Hookham, FTA managing director of policy and communications.

"We're asking operators to provide us with quarterly diesel usage statistics then we will report back to the government in 2011."

In order to remain credible with the government, though, the FTA will have to audit all members of the scheme annually.

"It's important that the government takes us seriously so we would need to visit each operator once a year to ensure they are reporting their emissions correctly."

To date, around 13 operators have signed up to the scheme, including Arla Foods, 3663, Ceva Logistics, and Wolseley.