Overview
The Outbound Logistics module estimates emissions from transporting finished goods from your production facility to the final point of consumption. This methodology accounts for the complex, multi-stage journey your products take through distribution networks to reach end consumers.
Impact Stage Coverage
This estimation function specifically covers the Distribution and Storage Impact Stage, which maps to the Logistics Altruistiq Activity.
Transport Legs
1. Retail Distribution Chain Transport Legs: (Default)
Facility → Distribution Centre: Long-haul transport to regional distribution hubs
DC → Retail Store: Medium-distance distribution to retail locations
Retail Store → Consumer Home: Short-distance final delivery to consumers
2. Wholesale/Foodservice (B2B) Transport Legs:
Facility → Distribution Centre: Long-haul transport to regional distribution hubs
DC → Consumption Point: Direct delivery to business customers (restaurants, cafeterias, etc.)
3. Direct-to-Consumer Transport Legs:
Facility → Distribution Centre: Long-haul transport to fulfilment centers
DC → Consumer Home: Direct-to-consumer delivery from distribution center
Required Input Data
Essential Data
Product weight (kilograms) (this is taken from your original Product List data upload and so is not required as a new data input)
Optional Data
You can provide your own data to override defaults for any transport leg:
Distribution scenario selection
Custom transport distances based on your actual supply chain
Specific transport modes and fuel types for each leg of the journey
Distribution scenario settings
We have 3 standard distribution scenarios available:
Scenario name | Legs and locations |
Retail distribution chain | Factory → Distribution Center (DC) → Retail Store → Consumer Home |
Direct to consumer | Factory → Distribution Center (DC) → Consumer Home |
Wholesale / Foodservice (B2B) | Factory → Distribution Center (DC) → Consumption Point |
The distribution scenario settings are shared between the Processing of Sold Goods and Services (Outbound Logistics) and Processing of Sold Goods and Services (Storage) activities.
By default, 100% of all products are set to travel via the retail distribution chain scenario. You can alter this and adjust what percentage of each product flows through each distribution route. This can also vary by country and year.
You can make adjustments by downloading the dataset, making adjustments to the data in the template, and re-uploading the data.
Calculation Parameters
For each leg of the journey you can adjust the transport distances and specific transport modes and fuel types for each leg of the journey. You can adjust these by downloading the dataset, making adjustments, and re-uploading.
Each of the following parameters can vary by year and country:
Data | Description |
Distance travelled (km) | Average distance travelled during leg |
Vehicle type | The vehicle and fuel type used |
The PEF defaults that can be adjusted are:
Distribution Scenario | Transport Leg | Default Distance (km) | Default Vehicle Type | Fuel Type | Optional Fuel Alternatives | Optional Mode Alternatives |
Retail distribution chain | Facility → Distribution Centre | 1,200 | Truck (>32t) | Diesel | CNG, Biodiesel | Airplane, Ship |
| DC → Retail Store | 250 | Van (<7.5t) | Diesel | CNG, Biodiesel, Petrol, E85, Electric, Hybrid |
|
| Retail Store → Consumer Home | 5 | Van (<7.5t) | Diesel | CNG, Biodiesel, Petrol, E85, Electric, Hybrid |
|
Wholesale / Foodservice (B2B) | Facility → Distribution Centre | 1,200 | Truck (>32t) | Diesel | CNG, Biodiesel | Airplane, Ship |
| DC → Consumption Point | 250 | Van (<7.5t) | Diesel | CNG, Biodiesel, Petrol, E85, Electric, Hybrid |
|
Direct-to-Consumer | Facility → Distribution Centre | 1,200 | Truck (>32t) | Diesel | CNG, Biodiesel | Airplane, Ship |
| DC → Consumer Home | 250 | Van (<7.5t) | Diesel | CNG, Biodiesel, Petrol, E85, Electric, Hybrid |