Building sustainable logistics through precise CO₂ emissions control and data-driven decision making

Challenge: Finding precision in CO₂ management for large-scale operations

CO₂ management is ZUFALL's most important sustainability topic in the "Planet" area – one of the three pillars (People, Planet, Profit) of its sustainability strategy. Transport accounts for 90 percent of emissions. In 2022, Gunnar Heunisch, Head of Sustainability & Compliance at ZUFALL, created specifications for service providers. He was looking for software that would calculate the CO₂ footprint for all transport and logistics services. The solution had to handle large data volumes and model them precisely.

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The decision for shipzero was made based on significant alignment with their own wishlist. When the collaboration began in 2023, not all requirements could be immediately translated. The joint project team searched for solutions with a good cost-benefit ratio.

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A central question was: How can information that wasn't previously captured be entered into the transport management system? One example: Vehicle master data. Previously, ZUFALL only distinguished between large and small trucks without specifying exact payload capacity – which is crucial for precise emissions calculations. shipzero and ZUFALL jointly developed an approach to add this data retroactively. Through smart integration of master data updates and automated validation, they were able to import accurate payloads. These are entered into the system without disrupting ongoing operations. This enables shipzero to provide precise emissions calculations for land transport.

"We were particularly convinced by their expertise with big data. We had the impression that shipzero could also model large data volumes according to our requirements."

Solution: Data transparency like financial controlling through partnership-oriented collaboration

Through shipzero, ZUFALL models its transport emission data according to ISO 14083 and the GLEC Framework. This enables comparisons with other companies and meets requirements such as CSRD and voluntary sustainability reports. Reporting is done at the push of a button, and ZUFALL can flexibly respond to customer requests. The company uses shipzero to create CO₂ reports for its transport services that show emissions at the shipment level – a service customers are increasingly demanding.

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In the dashboard, the company assigns emissions to individual cost centers – similar to financial controlling. The collaboration is characterized by good interpersonal relationships and dedicated contact persons who build trust. Both sides grow together, which strengthens the partnership.

"The collaboration with shipzero was partnership-oriented from the start. We developed solutions together that were both technically feasible and economically sensible. The team understood our specific requirements and found pragmatic ways to implement them."

Results: Data-driven sustainability decisions with cost center-level visibility

Through shipzero, ZUFALL models its transport emission data according to ISO 14083 and the GLEC Framework, enabling comparisons with other companies and meeting requirements such as CSRD and voluntary sustainability reports. Reporting is done at the push of a button, and ZUFALL can flexibly respond to customer requests.

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In the dashboard, the company assigns emissions to individual cost centers – similar to financial controlling. This level of transparency enables ZUFALL to make data-driven decisions that directly support their sustainability goals. The company can now see patterns and opportunities that were previously invisible, fundamentally changing how they approach emissions management.

"We see things we wouldn't have seen a year ago. Thanks to shipzero, we can make data-driven decisions that directly support our sustainability goals."

Outlook: Expanding sustainable logistics through Book & Claim and emission-free routes

Book & Claim represents another major step toward sustainable logistics for future generations for ZUFALL. The company is initially focusing on air freight: After a 2024 pilot with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), the alternative fuel will be integrated into shipzero's "Book & Claim" module.

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With two years of emissions data as a foundation, ZUFALL wants to expand CO₂-reduced routes. Emission-free transport should be offered to more customers. The company is pursuing additional collaborations within its network. ZUFALL always looks beyond its own operations and uses its constantly growing expertise to permanently establish sustainability as a central theme throughout its extensive ecosystem. This is how sustainability for future generations is integrated into long-term business thinking.

"With shipzero as a reliable partner for big data analysis, we're well-equipped to further develop our services."

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