CO2 reporting tool supports measurement, reduction of fleet carbon emissions

On 23 November 2023, Webfleet – Bridgestone’s global fleet management solution – received certification for its CO₂ reporting tool from TÜV Rheinland, one of the world’s leading verification bodies. The tool will enable businesses to measure CO₂ produced by their fleets based on driving data.

Images supplied by Webfleet

The certified Webfleet CO₂ Report shows not only how much CO₂ emissions vehicles are causing, but also why and where it is happening. This real-time and historical insight enables businesses to take better, targeted action to reduce their carbon footprint. It also supports them to accurately report on the level of direct CO₂ emissions caused by the vehicles they own to help them meet the demands of regulations such as the EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Justin Manson, sales director at Webfleet South Africa, explains that, at this stage, the tool will be for the EU market, as there is a need to understand CO₂ rules in different geographies and change the tool accordingly. Despite this, it is a useful tool linked directly to fuel usage.

Manson emphasises, “CO₂ emissions are directly linked to fuel usage, so by monitoring and reducing CO₂ emissions businesses would automatically reduce their fuel spend. Importantly, it is not necessarily the reporting tool alone that will help businesses lower emissions and fuel costs. Webfleet, as a SaaS platform, will assist businesses in becoming more efficient. The tool will draw data from Webfleet to monitor how well businesses are progressing in reducing emissions.”

In the EU, after the regulation comes into play next year, fleets will increasingly be required to provide accurate data on the CO₂ produced by their company, set carbon reduction targets and implement effective actions to reduce emissions​​. While larger enterprises will be the first required to directly report their CO₂ data to the EU, the number of businesses that need to comply will increase over the coming years. Also, the regulation demands that an organisation reports not only on the emissions directly produced by its vehicles but also those produced indirectly across its value chain – for example, emissions from vehicles owned by their suppliers.

That means smaller businesses that do not yet need to report CO₂ data directly to the EU could still find themselves impacted by CSRD next year if they provide services to an organisation that does need to report. Those larger customers may request accurate CO₂ data from their suppliers and the ability to do so could become a competitive advantage.

With decarbonisation a top priority for the industry, sustainable transport is the focus of this year’s Fleet Europe Summit, a leading conference bringing together fleet and mobility leaders from across the continent.

Speaking today at Fleet Europe Summit in Lisbon, Taco van der Leij, vice-president of Webfleet Europe at Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, said, “Our CO₂ reporting tool is a certified, accurate way to calculate your fleet’s direct CO₂ emissions. But there’s much more to decarbonisation than just reporting. Our data-driven mobility solutions empower customers to take a holistic approach to reducing their fleet’s carbon footprint. From advising fleets on electrification to optimising energy consumption and smart charging, cutting out driving habits that waste fuel, maintaining tyres at the right pressure, keeping drivers on the best routes and beyond, we’re a partner for businesses that want to take real action to run more sustainably.

“Data is the key to making that happen. It is only with accurate, actionable data insights on CO₂ emissions that businesses can know they are doing the right things to reduce them. By connecting your vehicles with a leading telematics solution like Webfleet, you can get those insights. We sum it up in three steps: Connect, Measure, Reduce. That’s how you can not only reach your environmental goals but also drive business efficiency and profitability at the same time.”

Source: Supplied by Webfleet, edited by Sharyn Macnamara