As part of this effort, IKIGAI has contributed to a new white paper led by Smart Freight Centre, with input from Procter & Gamble, Normec Verifavia, and GRUBER Logistics. The paper addresses the practical implementation of book and claim models for low-emission road freight, offering a structured approach for shippers to overcome data and supply constraints when working with carriers of varying maturity.
The white paper forms part of IKIGAI’s broader ambition to enable credible, standardised, and verifiable emissions reporting – a foundational step toward achieving zero-emission, scalable, and collaborative freight systems in line with the Physical Internet vision by 2040.
The challenge: demand for low-emission freight is growing, but delivery falls short
Road freight contributes nearly two-thirds of global freight-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet, many carriers, especially smaller ones, lack the infrastructure, knowledge, or access to low-emission solutions required to meet the growing demand from shippers with climate targets.
This creates what SFC calls the “upstream partner problem”: shippers willing to decarbonise are often limited by the capabilities of their carriers.
The solution: book and claim, verified by a clear standard
The book and claim chain of custody model allows shippers to purchase the environmental attributes of low-emission transport, such as biofuel usage, even when physical delivery is not directly possible. This helps scale demand and incentivises fuel switching in the wider market.
To ensure credibility, the white paper presents a robust framework for implementation, built on:
- P&G’s standard operating procedure (SOP) for procuring and reporting low-emission road transport.
- Third-party verification from Normec Verifavia, aligned with Smart Freight Centre’s Market-Based Measures Specification (MBM Specification).
- Carrier insights, including a case study from GRUBER Logistics on implementing book and claim in practice.
Together, these tools ensure transparency, traceability, and accountability across the emissions reporting chain.
A blueprint for collaboration
The white paper outlines a replicable approach for other shippers, particularly those operating in data-poor or decentralised logistics environments. Key lessons include:
- Standardisation fosters inclusion: With clear SOPs, even less mature carriers can participate, as long as they meet minimum assurance criteria.
- Verification safeguards trust: Independent assessment is essential for ensuring claims are credible, compliant, and auditable.
- Real-world impact is achievable: GRUBER Logistics’ approach shows how even medium-sized carriers can provide reliable, low-emission services through a structured book and claim system.
IKIGAI’s role: scaling impact through shared innovation
This work aligns with IKIGAI’s mission to accelerate the Physical Internet (PI) and decarbonise freight transport through practical, industry-led solutions. By harmonising standards, enabling transparency, and fostering collaboration between shippers, carriers, and verifiers, initiatives like this are critical to unlocking real progress.
The lessons from this publication also feed directly into IKIGAI’s ambition to set new benchmarks for emissions reporting and enable greater participation in collaborative, zero-emission freight solutions – such as the digital chain of custody, being piloted by GRUBER Logistics under IKIGAI.
Read the full white paper
📄 Download here: https://smart-freight-centre-media.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Empowering_Shippers_White_Paper_December_2025_.pdf
IKIGAI workshop “Towards Standards for the Physical Internet: Building the Foundations for Global Interoperability”
On 22 October 2025, the IKIGAI Project took part in the international workshop “Towards Standards for the Physical Internet: Building the Foundations for Global Interoperability”, held in Brussels and co-organised by ALICE (Alliance for Logistics Innovation through...
Why Is the project titled IKIGAI
In Japanese, ikigai means “a reason for being” – the point where what we love, what the world needs, what we are good at, and what we are paid for intersect. This concept is not just a name; it is the foundation of the IKIGAI Project’s purpose and vision.
IKIGAI represents a deeply held belief that the Physical Internet (PI) is essential to the future of logistics.
Kick-off meeting in Rome
On 8-9 July 2025, the IKIGAI consortium gathered in Rome for its official Kick-off Meeting, hosted by project coordinator FIT Consulting srl. This two-day event marked the formal launch of IKIGAI, a Horizon Europe project dedicated to advancing the Physical Internet (PI) and achieving the twin transition of logistics digitalisation and decarbonisation in Europe.
