IKIGAI and partners publish white paper on book and claim

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.