Smart Freight Centre

What Smart Freight Centre does

Smart Freight Centre (SFC) is an international non-profit foundation registered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, founded in 2013, with 11-50 employees and regional offices in China and India. The organization is dedicated to reducing the emission impacts of global freight transportation through standardized emissions accounting frameworks, methodologies, and digital standards. Its core offering is the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Framework — the only globally recognized methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions consistently across multi-modal logistics supply chains — which was instrumental in developing the ISO 14083 international standard for transport emissions accounting. The GLEC Framework is used by 100+ multinational corporations, and the GLEC voluntary partnership includes 150+ companies, associations, and experts.

SFC operates a comprehensive portfolio of programs spanning emissions accounting (GLEC, iLEAP digital standard, CLEVER, SFC Certification and Conformity Assessment), road freight (Fleet Electrification Coalition, Electrifying Drayage Alliance), maritime (Clean Cargo covering 80-85% of global container cargo, Global Ro-Ro Community, Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative), aviation (Clean Air Transport), and freight buyer initiatives (Sustainable Freight Buyers Alliance, Smart Freight Shippers Alliance). Underlying technology includes the GLEC Framework v3.0 (fully aligned with ISO 14083), iLEAP Technical Specifications for interoperability, and proprietary emission intensity factors including first industry benchmarks for deep-sea Ro-Ro shipping released December 2025.

SFC generates revenue through a three-tiered membership subscription model, professional training and certification fees via the SFC Academy, tool and program certification licensing, and grants from funders including the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO), and the UPS Foundation. Distribution is primarily direct through its Community Platform, Academy, certification service, regional offices, and flagship events (Smart Freight Week, Smart Freight Fall Meeting). The member base collectively represents over €15 trillion in market capitalization and employs 10 million+ people worldwide, giving SFC significant structural influence over global freight decarbonization practice.

Name

Smart Freight Centre

Legal name

Smart Freight Centre

Website

https://smartfreightcentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smart Freight Centre is an international non-profit foundation that develops and stewards the GLEC Framework and ISO 14083-aligned methodologies, tools, and digital standards (including iLEAP) to help multinational shippers, carriers, and logistics service providers measure, report, and reduce freight transportation emissions globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Decarbonization Services

SIC

Services-Services, Nec (8900)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Policy, Data Governance & Cybersecurity Standards Cooperation (BPADANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN)

Keywords

• Logistics emissions accounting
• Freight decarbonization standards
• Supply chain GHG reporting
• Sustainability certification services
• Multimodal freight transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: SFC offers a three-tiered membership structure providing access to the SFC Community Platform, exclusive insights, resources, and events. Members gain access to a wide portfolio of programs and initiatives to help them collaborate to improve their GHG emission performance and supply chain economics.
2. Training and Academy: SFC Academy provides webinars, self-paced e-trainings, and professional training courses including GLEC Framework training, Smart Transport Manager Training, and Develop Your Sustainable Logistics Roadmap training. Revenue generated through course fees and discounted access for members.
3. Certification Services: SFC Certification checks if tools and programs offer logistics GHG emissions calculation and reporting in conformance with ISO 14083 and the GLEC Framework. Certification fees for tools and programs seeking to become SFC Certified partners.
4. Grants and Funding: SFC receives funding from organizations such as the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO), and UPS Foundation to support specific projects and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Smart Freight Centre (SFC) is an independent, international non-profit organization that develops, maintains, and disseminates standardized methodologies, digital data specifications (iLEAP), training (SFC Academy), and an ISO 14083:2023-aligned certification scheme for measuring, reporting, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across multimodal logistics supply chains. Its sellable offerings target corporate members, freight carriers, shippers, and software providers that need auditable emissions calculations and recognized certification.

Product overview

Smart Freight Centre is an international non-profit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs, frameworks, and tools for logistics decarbonization. The core offering is the GLEC Framework, the globally recognized methodology for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions across multimodal logistics supply chains, aligned with ISO 14083. Supporting this are training programs through the SFC Academy, certification and validation services (SFC Certification, SFC Validation, SFC Conformity Assessment Scheme), and digital standards including iLEAP for logistics emissions data exchange. The organization operates sector-specific programs covering road freight (Fleet Electrification Coalition, Electrifying Drayage Alliance), maritime (Clean Cargo, Global Ro-Ro Community, Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative), aviation (Clean Air Transport), and cross-modal initiatives (Book and Claim Community, Sustainable Freight Buyers Alliance, Smart Freight Shippers Alliance). Regional offices in China and India extend reach globally, complemented by flagship events (Smart Freight Week, Smart Freight Fall Meeting) and assessment tools (Decarbonization Maturity Assessment). The three-tiered membership structure provides access to the SFC Community Platform and exclusive resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC): A voluntary partnership managed by Smart Freight Centre that develops global guidelines for reporting and reducing logistics emissions
• SFC Academy
• Smart Freight Week
• Clean Cargo
• Fleet Electrification Coalition (FEC)
• Sustainable Freight Buyers Alliance (SFBA)

Products and services

• GLEC Framework v3.0 A globally recognized methodology for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions across transport modes (road, rail, air, sea, inland) and hubs; the de facto industry standard used by shippers, carriers, and software providers.
• iLEAP (Data Model + Architecture) An open, interoperable digital data specification and technical architecture for exchanging logistics emissions data between shippers, carriers, and software/tools, structured to be embedded in TMS, LCA, and carbon-accounting applications.
• SFC Academy SFC's online training and exam program that builds practitioner and organizational competency in applying the GLEC Framework to measure and report logistics GHG emissions; courses are accessible via online LMS.
• SFC Certification Scheme (Carrier / Shipper / Software-Tool) An independent third-party certification scheme that audits and recognizes organizations that calculate and disclose GHG emissions in accordance with the GLEC Framework and ISO 14083:2023; structured by audience (carrier, shipper, software/tool).
• SFC Membership Programme A tiered organizational membership programme (e.g., Founding, Participating, Steering) that gives companies a direct governance seat, working-group access, and rights to use SFC tools and frameworks in their decarbonization work.
• SFC Community Platform The online community platform that brings SFC members together to access resources, participate in Working Groups, share case studies, and collaborate on freight decarbonization projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies using GLEC Framework have collectively reduced/avoided well in excess of 6 million tonnes of CO2e until 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2026Smart Freight Centre joined IAPH as an Associate Member to collaborate on emissions accounting, green shipping corridors, clean fuels, and supply chain transparency. Together, the organizations will focus on knowledge sharing, industry engagement, and practical solutions to reduce emissions across maritime transport. IAPH represents 206 port authorities and 177 port-related businesses handling over one third of world sea-borne trade.
• British International Freight Association (BIFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Partnership to provide technical expertise to BIFA members to support them in managing complex emissions reporting. Through SFC Academy, BIFA members gain discounted access to expert-led training across GLEC Framework, market-based measures mechanisms, and road freight electrification courses.
• Shift4GoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Partnership to support the transition toward more resilient and low-carbon freight systems. First-of-its-kind investment platform to accelerate logistics decarbonization launched in Amsterdam and Paris.
• Polish Association for New Mobility (PSNM) and PragmaChargecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Coalition launched to build multiple charging hubs in Poland in 2026. Poland-Germany Zero Emission Road Freight Corridor Consortium facilitating roll out of heavy-duty electric trucks along Poland's busiest trucking corridors, including routes into Germany.
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026SFC India, in collaboration with TERI and IIM-Bangalore, released a Whitepaper titled 'Institutionalizing Freight Emissions Accounting in India: Pathways for Clean Freight Programs and Policy Integration' at high-level convening in New Delhi.
• SINE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint sponsors and operators of the iLEAP project. SFC contributes GLEC Framework expertise while SINE supports technology strategy, standardization processes, and co-authors the iLEAP Technical Specifications. The iLEAP standard enables seamless connectivity in logistics emissions transparency.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on maritime shipping decarbonization. Clean Cargo, established by BSR nearly 19 years ago with over 80 shipper, carrier and freight forwarder members, transitioned to SFC. Jointly established Sustainable Freight Buyers Alliance.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to establish Sustainable Freight Buyers Alliance and develop book and claim chain of custody system for transportation supply chain emission reduction actions. Alliance part of Mission Possible Partnership.
• MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly developed guidelines for insetting in air transportation value chains to facilitate use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Guidelines provide SAF emissions accounting based on GLEC Framework and book and claim chain of custody system.
• Global Maritime ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner of GLEC. Contributing to Sea Cargo Charter technical guidance development. Partner in Getting to Zero Coalition working to accelerate maritime shipping's decarbonization with commercially viable deep sea zero emission vessels by 2030.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReleased Smart Freight Procurement (SFP) Guidelines together. Partnership under Transforming Heavy Transport project and We Mean Business coalition. PACT team collaboration for iLEAP project.
• Deutsche Post DHL GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly developed white paper 'Carbon Insets for the Logistics Sector' advocating carbon insetting to accelerate freight decarbonization. DHL's Skicka Grönt program in Sweden serves as lighthouse insetting project.
• European Inland Waterway Transport PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in IW-NET project leading the IWT sector's input for new ISO 14083 standard. Consortium of 26 companies, research institutions and public organizations from 9 European countries developing technological solutions for inland waterway transport.
• The LoadstarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst media partner of GLEC. Loadstar committed to help GLEC reach shippers who have struggled to account for GHG emissions and ensure readers are ready to respond to increasing sustainability pressure from customers and regulators.
• iLEAP Tool Provider PartnerscoreTechnology or IntegrationOver 15 tool providers implementing iLEAP Technical Specifications including Blue Yonder, Carboledger, Dachser, EcoTransIT, Fleevo, GreenRouter, Gryn, Hermione, Kinver, LKW Walter, LyondellBasell, PragmaCharge, and ShipZero.
• GIZ (German Corporation for International Cooperation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ Mexico collaboration to support local efforts of freight decarbonization in Mexico. Project includes GLEC Framework e-training and Smart Transport Manager Training Program for Mexican road freight companies.
• TransporeoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal transport platform provided anonymized data from over 800 carriers in 32 European countries for SME decarbonization study. Collaboration on research supporting carrier engagement in decarbonization.
• Kühne Logistics University (KLU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with Center for Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chains (CSLS) on SME road freight carrier decarbonization study examining emission calculation capabilities across 800+ European carriers.
• Getting to Zero CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFC joined Getting to Zero Coalition working to accelerate maritime shipping's decarbonization with development and deployment of commercially viable deep sea zero emission vessels by 2030.
• Open Logistics FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration supporting iLEAP implementation, testing, and validation through the 'Enabling Logistics Decarbonization' Working Group, leveraging shared expertise in sustainable logistics and digital innovation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Sustainability-focused non-profit that originally incubated Clean Cargo before transferring it to SFC in 2021. BSR is a structural twin — same non-profit model, same corporate sustainability focus — and remains a partner via SFBA and Mission Possible Partnership.
• Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Operated jointly by WRI and WBCSD, the GHG Protocol sets the global standard methodology for corporate-level GHG accounting. It is the closest structural analog to SFC's GLEC Framework, working one level upstream (corporate rather than logistics).
• Mission Possible Partnership: WEF-anchored coalition for industrial decarbonization across heavy transport and other sectors. SFC's Sustainable Freight Buyers Alliance sits inside MPP, making MPP a closely aligned peer organization with shared corporate buyers.
• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Independent non-profit that defines how companies set and validate emissions-reduction targets. SBTi is a direct peer in non-profit standard-setting for climate disclosure, and companies using GLEC often layer SBTi commitments on top.
• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute): Independent non-profit energy consultancy shaping heavy-duty transport decarbonization and corporate climate strategy. Similar non-profit model and focus on freight/industry transition as SFC, though broader across energy systems.

Emerging players

• Sea Cargo Charter: Global Maritime Forum-led initiative for shipowner climate alignment in maritime. Adjacent standard-setter in ocean freight emissions, partially overlapping with Clean Cargo's scope.
• Global Maritime Forum: International non-profit driving shipping decarbonization (Getting to Zero Coalition, Sea Cargo Charter). Closely aligned with SFC's maritime work via Clean Cargo and GLEC; partially overlapping but focused only on ocean freight.

Broad incumbents

• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): Largest global climate-disclosure platform; many SFC members report through CDP using GLEC-derived data. CDP is a broader, more established incumbent that overlaps with SFC on Scope 3 freight reporting.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): CEO-led coalition of >200 sustainable businesses; co-developed Smart Freight Procurement Guidelines with SFC and co-operates the GHG Protocol. Larger, more diversified incumbent with overlapping scope on transport decarbonization.

Regional players

• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute): India-based research non-profit focused on energy and sustainability. Collaborates with SFC India on freight emissions accounting white papers; structurally similar non-profit model but regionally focused on the Indian subcontinent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smartfreightctr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smart-freight-centre

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smart Freight Centre