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Definition

GLEC Framework

The GLEC Framework sets a common method for calculating and reporting freight and logistics-hub greenhouse gas emissions, including operations and the upstream production and delivery of their fuel or electricity.

What is the GLEC Framework?

Smart Freight Centre's GLEC Framework v3.2 applies ISO 14083:2023 to freight transport chains and logistics hubs. It combines operating emissions with emissions from producing and delivering energy, together called well-to-wheel emissions.

Why does the GLEC Framework matter to you?

A freight customer may ask for a total in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2e) and an intensity per tonne-kilometre or tonne handled. Before comparing answers, check that they use the same period and boundary. A lower number may simply exclude empty trips, cooling, refrigerant leakage or upstream energy supply.

How does the GLEC Framework work?

For a warehouse, define a hub operation category (HOC) by process, freight type, temperature condition and a period of up to one year. Record outbound tonnes handled. Convert each fuel, electricity and refrigerant source with factors covering the required stages, add the emissions, then divide by the same-period tonnes. GLEC Chapter 3 puts measured primary data before modelled data and default values.

What mistakes should you avoid?

  • Reporting site or tailpipe emissions while omitting fuel and energy supply.
  • Combining ambient and refrigerated freight without a documented allocation.
  • Using annual emissions with monthly tonnes handled.
  • Claiming ISO 14083 conformity when an omission or deviation has not been explained.

Is the GLEC Framework the same as ISO 14083?

No. ISO 14083 is the international standard. GLEC v3.2 gives freight operators calculation and reporting instructions aligned with it. Use the ISO conformity statement only when the calculation and report follow the specified procedures completely.

What should you send with a GLEC result?

Send the total and intensity for the HOC, split the total into hub-operation emissions and energy-provision emissions, and state the dates, tonnes handled, factor values and sources, data quality, allocation method, exclusions and any deviation from the framework. Keep meter records, fuel logs, refrigerant reports and the matching freight export so the customer can reproduce the number.

Example

Suppose a cold-chain warehouse operator in Saudi Arabia defines one 2026 HOC for palletized refrigerated freight at a cross-dock. Its meter covers cooling, lighting and electric handling equipment. The HOC uses 260,000 kWh and handles 18,500 outbound tonnes. Fuel logs show no onsite fuel use, and service records show 0 kg of refrigerant loss.

Keslio's dataset contains grid_sa_dna_2021_best_published at 0.568 kg CO2/kWh for Saudi Arabia. The source is KFUPM's 2024 GHG inventory, citing the Saudi Designated National Authority's 2021 grid factor. The electricity subtotal is 260,000 kWh x 0.568 kg CO2/kWh = 147,680 kg CO2. Adding the two recorded zero sources leaves 147,680 kg CO2. The provisional intensity is 147,680 / 18,500 = 7.9827 kg CO2 per tonne handled.

This is a boundary check, not a complete GLEC result. The local factor is low confidence, reports CO2 rather than CO2e and omits the upstream electricity stages required for a complete well-to-wheel result. Do not report 7.9827 as GLEC or ISO 14083 compliant. Obtain a Saudi factor covering the required gases and energy-provision stages, recalculate the subtotal and intensity, and keep the provisional figure only as an internal data-gap record.

Where it comes up

GLEC v3.2 inclusion of hub operations, refrigerant leakage and upstream energy provisionChapter 1, Coverage of emissions from all forms of fuel and energy sources, printed pages 17-18 (checked 2026-08-20)Official sourceGLEC v3.2 primary, modelled and default data sequence for a TOC or HOCChapter 3, Steps for Establishing the Emission Intensity of a TOC or a HOC, printed page 29 (checked 2026-08-20)Official sourceGLEC v3.2 total HOC emissions divided by total hub operation activityChapter 3, Calculating the GHG emission intensity of a HOC, printed page 34 (checked 2026-08-20)Official source

Related terms

Well-to-wheel emissions

Well-to-wheel emissions combine the greenhouse gases from producing and delivering a vehicle's energy with those released while the vehicle uses that energy.

Emission factor

An emission factor converts a measured activity, such as kilowatt-hours of electricity or litres of fuel, into greenhouse gas emissions by stating the emissions released per unit of that activity.

Scope 3 Category 4: Upstream transportation and distribution

Scope 3 Category 4 covers emissions from third-party transport and storage of purchased goods, plus transport services your company buys for inbound freight, site transfers, and paid outbound delivery.

Carbon Accounting

Carbon accounting is the process of defining a company’s greenhouse gas inventory, collecting activity data, applying emission factors, and reporting Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions on a consistent basis.

Sources

  • Smart Freight Centre

    GLEC v3.2 freight and hub boundary, HOC construction, data hierarchy, well-to-wheel treatment, intensity formula and reporting conditions

    2026-08-20

  • ISO/TC 207/SC 7

    ISO 14083:2023 coverage of quantification, allocation and reporting for freight transport chains and transport hubs

    2026-08-20

Last verified 2026-08-20

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GLEC Framework Definition | Keslio