Chain of Custody for
carbon calculation

Building trust through transparent fuel traceability

In freight transport, credibility is of the utmost importance. Although businesses are increasingly committing to low-emission transport solutions, doubts persist over whether the biofuels or alternative energy they pay for are genuinely being used as claimed. Current verification systems rarely cover the entire “chain of custody” from fuel production to final consumption, resulting in significant transparency gaps.

The GRUBER “Book & Claim” pilot, within the IKIGAI project, is designed to close these gaps. The project aims to provide a verified, blockchain-enabled system for end-to-end emissions accounting in freight transport, making fuel sustainability claims reliable and auditable in line with global reporting standards.

A new benchmark for emissions reporting

The pilot builds on earlier groundwork, including joint projects with Procter & Gamble, Smart Freight Centre and Verifavia, as well as collaboration with the OECD on methodologies to be presented at the COP in Brazil. The GRUBER LOGISTICS “Book & Claim” system represents a true innovation in the freight transport sector, being among the first solutions to combine blockchain-enabled fuel traceability with internationally recognised emissions reporting frameworks.

By combining blockchain technology with well-established reporting frameworks such as the GLEC Framework and ISO 14083, GRUBER’s “Book & Claim” solution will enable the following:

• • Secure registration of sustainable fuel production, purchase, and use
  • Verified allocation of low-carbon transport services to customers through Book & Claim
  • End-to-end traceability from production through transport operations to emissions reporting

How it works

1. 1. Fuel producers register quantities and sustainability attributes in an open blockchain-based registry.
   2. Logistics operators then purchase these alternative fuels, log the transactions and use them in fleet operations.
   3. Customers can then claim the verified use of these fuels for their shipments, supported by standardised emissions calculations.

The system tracks primary data wherever possible, reducing reliance on default values that can distort true performance.

Business value

The benefits for shippers and logistics providers include:

• • Confidence in the authenticity of sustainability claims
  • Compliance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
  • Improved market trust and differentiation based on verified low-carbon performance.
  • Access to a digital ecosystem that enables seamless data sharing and visibility across the supply chain.

Challenges and forward path

The main challenge lies in ensuring the quality and completeness of data across a range of different actors and systems. The pilot will address this by:

Under IKIGAI, however, the model will evolve into an online orchestration platform that integrates logistics service providers, enabling:

• • Custody chain model analysis
  • Developing an emission calculation framework
  • Registry structure design
  • Deployment of the blockchain-enabled reporting system

If successful, the system could set a market-wide precedent for trustworthy, standardised emissions accounting, accelerating the adoption of sustainable fuels in road freight.