Determining the Emissions and Energy usage of Transports - From a Transport Purchasing Perspective

The problem addressed in this paper is that of determining the environmental aspects of a transport relation. This problem is addressed from a transport purchasing perspective and in respect of high volume, low value cargo. The research has been both case study inspired as well as action research oriented. The model was developed in a company where the researcher actively participated in its development. The company in the case study is a major European transport purchaser. The practical implication is a method which enables transport purchasers to determine environmental aspects of transports. The method accounts for the input of energy and the output of emissions of for a specific transport relation. The theoretical implication is this method can be a step towards developing a general theory for determining the environmental aspect of transported cargo.