By Maria Kalamatas | May 9, 2025
Brussels, BELGIUM —
Carbon credits used to be enough. For years, logistics firms could plant a few trees, buy offset certificates, and call it sustainability. But in 2025, clients — and regulators — are no longer buying it.
“We’ve entered the post-offset era,” says Dominique Reynaud, environmental compliance advisor for several mid-sized 3PLs. “Shippers want proof — not promises.”
Emissions reporting gets serious
Across Europe, mandatory emissions disclosures are changing the game. Starting this quarter, large logistics providers are required to report scope 3 emissions — including those from subcontracted fleets, warehouses, and last-mile partners.
Companies without solid data pipelines are struggling. Some forwarders report RFP exclusions simply for lacking CO₂ breakdowns per shipment.
“You can’t just hand over an Excel sheet anymore,” Reynaud explains. “Clients want dashboards, comparisons, year-over-year data.”
Certifications become contracts
Sustainability labels like ISO 14083, Smart Freight Centre verification, and Clean Cargo scores have gone from “nice to have” to deal-breakers. In Germany, multiple retail chains now require these standards to even consider a logistics tender.
Small operators are feeling the heat. Without third-party certification, they risk being locked out of high-volume contracts — even if they’re operationally solid.
Offsets replaced by results
More clients are rejecting offset-only strategies in favor of real-world reductions. That includes routing optimization, low-emission vehicles, reusable materials, and modal shifts to rail or inland shipping.
Platforms like CO2Ledger and Emissia Freight now allow shippers to audit their forwarders’ footprint, verify actions taken, and compare performance across vendors.
“Offsetting isn’t dead,” Reynaud says. “But it’s no longer enough on its own.”
Collaboration replaces claims
What’s working in 2025? Collaboration. Forwarders that co-design sustainability strategies with clients — from packaging to delivery modes — are the ones winning repeat business.
Instead of sending out green brochures, smart 3PLs now schedule quarterly ESG reviews with clients, showing data, lessons learned, and new improvement plans.
Final thought
This year marks a shift: from appearance to action. In 2025, greenwashing doesn’t just get ignored — it gets penalized. Freight companies that build credibility with transparency will be the ones still signing contracts next quarter.
