Pushing for emissions transparency with Carbon Footprint Declarations

“Our customers need to do CO2 reporting,” says Mette Kjems Bærentzen, Director of Decarbonisation at Kalmar. “So, it's helpful to have transparency on CO2 emissions in all goods throughout the entire value chain. You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” And measuring carbon emissions is impossible to do accurately without the right information. That’s why Kalmar creates Carbon Footprint Declaration documents – or CFDs – for cargo handling machine models in its Eco Portfolio.

Let’s take a look at what a CFD document is, why Kalmar creates them, and how companies looking to buy cargo handling equipment can benefit from them.

Carbon Footprint Declarations in brief

Kalmar's CFDs are similar to Environment Product Declarations (EPDs), but only focus on carbon emissions and no other environmental impact indicators. However, EPDs are published in a global database, and there is not a category in that database yet for cargo handling equipment. Nevertheless, Kalmar sees the value in reporting this information, and has therefore taken the initiative to create CFD documents for its stakeholders’ reference. It all starts with the Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) that Kalmar carries out on its machines in the Eco Portfolio. The LCA results are aligned with the ISO standard 14067 and verified by a third party.

“A CFD summarises a life cycle assessment of a product,” says Mette. This comprehensive summary details the CO2 emissions across various stages. “It gives an overview of the CO2 emissions from product manufacturing, product use phase, maintenance, and also transportation, for the lifetime of the product.”

Why Carbon Footprint Declarations are useful to customers

Kalmar CFD documents support customers in meeting their CO2 reporting obligations. In today’s landscape, transparency around emissions is essential for compliance and operational efficiency. CO2 reporting often covers several categories, such as emissions from purchased goods and services, product manufacturing, and the use phase. For customers who purchase cargo handling equipment, having a CFD means they can accurately document and report the CO2 emissions associated with their new assets. This level of transparency is especially valuable for companies that need to compare emissions between different product types. 

“It could also be that potential customers request CFDs for comparison,” Mette says. “For example, they might compare the diesel version and the electric version of a machine so that they can see the lifetime savings on emissions.” In some cases, potential customers request CFDs when applying for green grants or subsidies. “The documentation shows the CO2 emission reductions that buying electric equipment will offer,” Mette adds, which supports those applications.

Why carbon emission reporting matters

By providing a detailed account of CO2 emissions, Kalmar helps customers not only meet reporting requirements, but also gain deeper insight into their supply chain's carbon impact. This transparency empowers businesses to identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions that contribute to decarbonization efforts. “I’d like to see more of it in this industry,” Mette points out.

CFDs could serve as a benchmark, enabling customers to compare emissions and select equipment that aligns with their sustainability goals. Kalmar's commitment to transparency paves the way for collective progress and competition toward lower CO2 emissions across the sector. “It would help drive decarbonisation if we could see who has the smallest footprint with their products,” Mette says. “But everybody needs to be transparent about it for that to happen.”

Actioning decarbonization starts with transparency

Kalmar’s Carbon Footprint Declarations are more than just reporting tools — they are part of a broader effort to encourage transparency and environmental accountability in the cargo handling industry. “We want to help ensure that there is transparency throughout the entire value chain,” Mette explains. “We are requesting carbon footprint information from our suppliers who then request it from their suppliers.” By doing this, Kalmar not only pushes for emission reporting beyond its own operations, but also helps customers fulfil their reporting needs. 

Ultimately, CFDs empower businesses to better understand their carbon impact, drive informed decisions, and contribute to decarbonization efforts. For companies that prioritise sustainability and seek to minimise their environmental footprint, Kalmar’s CFD documents are a valuable resource. “Transparency,” Mette reiterates. “That’s the main thing.”

Explore the range of Kalmar’s cargo handling solutions and request a Carbon Footprint Declaration document today.

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