Sustainability In The Logistics Industry Statistics 2026

Freight transportation drives about 2.0 Gt CO2e in annual logistics and transport emissions. Energy efficiency in freight could avoid roughly 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2e globally, and route optimization can cut logistics-related CO2 emission potential by 10.4%. Executives still report major friction with Scope 3 accounting, with 45% struggling to calculate it accurately.

Key Takeaways

10.4% reduction in logistics-related CO2 emissions potential with route optimization (IEA 2022 estimates)
2.0 Gt CO2e annual global emissions from logistics and transport-related activities are associated with freight transportation (IPCC AR6 WGIII, transport chapter)
40–60% of food loss and waste occurs in the distribution stage for food supply chains in middle-income countries (FAO)
74% of logistics companies indicate sustainability affects procurement decisions (DHL trend reporting)
45% of logistics executives say they face challenges in calculating Scope 3 emissions (Gartner)
72% of logistics decision-makers expect sustainability to influence contract awards (2024 survey)
$6.2 billion global market size for sustainable logistics software in 2023 (MarketsandMarkets)
Global spending on sustainable logistics software and services is projected to reach about $6.2B in 2023 (market sizing baseline)
The global electric truck market is expected to reach about $34.5B by 2030 (forecast)
3.2% of global greenhouse-gas emissions are from shipping (2018 estimate)
Fuel combustion accounts for 72% of total greenhouse-gas emissions from international shipping (2018)
Light-duty vehicles account for 45% of transport CO2 emissions globally (2022)
Freight transport demand growth is forecast to increase global freight tonne-kilometres by 60% between 2015 and 2050 (baseline from IEA 2019)
The average warehouse productivity improved by 15% in 2023 measured as cases per labor hour among participating operators (2023 WHQ Benchmarking)
The EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive requires a 2021–2030 binding target of at least 11.7% energy savings at EU level (2018/2023 framework)

Route optimization and efficiency can cut freight emissions and costs significantly, while sustainability reporting and software adoption accelerate change.

01 · Category

Emissions & Decarbonization6 stats

10.4% reduction in logistics-related CO2 emissions potential with route optimization (IEA 2022 estimates)

2.0 Gt CO2e annual global emissions from logistics and transport-related activities are associated with freight transportation (IPCC AR6 WGIII, transport chapter)

40–60% of food loss and waste occurs in the distribution stage for food supply chains in middle-income countries (FAO)

26% of global GHG emissions are associated with agriculture, forestry and other land use; logistics systems that support agriculture can enable mitigation via efficiency improvements (IPCC AR6)

11% of global CO2 emissions come from transport, a key downstream source for logistics-related emissions (IEA)

1.2 billion tonnes of CO2e could be avoided globally through energy efficiency in freight (IEA)

Interpretation

Emissions & Decarbonization Interpretation

In the Emissions and Decarbonization category, logistics and transport account for huge emissions like 2.0 Gt CO2e annually tied to freight, but route optimization can cut logistics-related CO2 emissions potential by 10.4% and energy efficiency could avoid up to 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2e globally, showing that practical decarbonization levers can deliver outsized impact.

02 · Category

Industry Trends4 stats

74% of logistics companies indicate sustainability affects procurement decisions (DHL trend reporting)

45% of logistics executives say they face challenges in calculating Scope 3 emissions (Gartner)

72% of logistics decision-makers expect sustainability to influence contract awards (2024 survey)

33% of respondents in a 2023 survey by NTT DATA reported that they plan to increase investment in supply-chain sustainability analytics in the next 12 months.

Interpretation

Industry Trends Interpretation

Across industry trends in logistics, 72% of decision makers expect sustainability to influence contract awards, while 74% say it already affects procurement decisions, showing that sustainability is rapidly moving from a goal to a core purchasing driver.

03 · Category

Market Size8 stats

$6.2 billion global market size for sustainable logistics software in 2023 (MarketsandMarkets)

Global spending on sustainable logistics software and services is projected to reach about $6.2B in 2023 (market sizing baseline)

The global electric truck market is expected to reach about $34.5B by 2030 (forecast)

The global logistics automation market is forecast to exceed $60B by 2030 (forecast)

The global sustainable supply chain management software market is projected to grow to about $7.8B by 2030 (forecast)

The global carbon accounting software market is projected to reach about $4.2B by 2030 (forecast)

The global green logistics market is expected to reach roughly $1.2T by 2030 (forecast)

The global warehouse management system market is projected to exceed $9.5B by 2030 (forecast)

Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

In the Market Size category, the data shows sustainable logistics technology is already valued around $6.2 billion in 2023 and is set to expand significantly, including a projected $7.8 billion sustainable supply chain management software market and $4.2 billion carbon accounting software market by 2030.

04 · Category

Emissions & Energy6 stats

3.2% of global greenhouse-gas emissions are from shipping (2018 estimate)

Fuel combustion accounts for 72% of total greenhouse-gas emissions from international shipping (2018)

Light-duty vehicles account for 45% of transport CO2 emissions globally (2022)

Rail transport produces about 76% less CO2 per tonne-kilometre than road freight on average in the EU (2019)

Coastal and inland shipping emits about 50% less CO2 per tonne-km than road freight on average in the EU (2019)

Electric trucks can reduce well-to-wheel greenhouse-gas emissions by 50–70% versus diesel trucks, depending on electricity carbon intensity (IEA 2023 scenario range)

Interpretation

Emissions & Energy Interpretation

For the emissions and energy side of sustainability in logistics, the biggest leverage is shifting away from combustion based modes and toward cleaner power and transport choices, since fuel use makes up 72% of international shipping greenhouse gas emissions and rail or coastal and inland shipping can cut CO2 by about 76% or 50% per tonne kilometre compared with road, while electric trucks can reduce well to wheel emissions by 50 to 70% depending on electricity carbon intensity.

05 · Category

Performance Metrics2 stats

Freight transport demand growth is forecast to increase global freight tonne-kilometres by 60% between 2015 and 2050 (baseline from IEA 2019)

The average warehouse productivity improved by 15% in 2023 measured as cases per labor hour among participating operators (2023 WHQ Benchmarking)

Interpretation

Performance Metrics Interpretation

From a Performance Metrics perspective, global freight demand is set to rise 60% by 2050 while warehouse productivity already improved 15% in 2023, showing measurable efficiency gains are becoming increasingly critical to handle growing logistics volumes.

Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Ltl Industry Statistics

06 · Category

Regulation & Risk9 stats

The EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive requires a 2021–2030 binding target of at least 11.7% energy savings at EU level (2018/2023 framework)

EU ETS aviation emissions are covered for flights within and between EEA/EU Member States beginning 2012 (coverage scope rule)

EU’s FuelEU Maritime regulation sets a requirement for shipping operators to reduce GHG intensity by 2% from 2025 with increasing reduction rates through 2050

EU CBAM phase 1 runs from 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2025 (reporting and verification period)

EU CSRD requires covered companies to report sustainability information starting with FY 2024 for companies already subject to NFRD (timeline)

The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive introduces due diligence obligations with application expected in 2027 for certain large companies (final application timeline)

The UK Climate Change Act sets a statutory target of net zero by 2050 (amended 2019)

US EPA’s GHG reporting requires reporting for facilities emitting 25,000 metric tons of CO2e per year (threshold)

US Clean Air Act transport-related permitting can be triggered for sources exceeding major-source thresholds of 100 tpy for certain pollutants (prevention of significant deterioration, PSD thresholds)

Interpretation

Regulation & Risk Interpretation

For the Regulation & Risk angle, European sustainability rules are tightening on a tight timetable, with binding targets like at least 11.7% energy savings by 2030 and escalating decarbonization duties starting as soon as 2% GHG intensity cuts from 2025, alongside major compliance regimes such as FuelEU Maritime, CBAM phase 1 through 2025, and CSRD reporting beginning in FY 2024, all of which increases regulatory exposure and reporting risk for logistics operators.

07 · Category

Energy & Emissions2 stats

1.6 billion tonnes of CO2e per year from global freight are estimated to be avoidable through efficiency measures using currently available technologies (IEA estimate of potential savings in road freight, rail, shipping and air).

4.6% of global transport greenhouse-gas emissions come from international shipping (2016 share).

Interpretation

Energy & Emissions Interpretation

For the Energy and Emissions angle, the data suggests big savings are possible because about 1.6 billion tonnes of CO2e per year from global freight could be avoided with currently available efficiency measures, even though international shipping accounts for only 4.6% of global transport greenhouse gas emissions.

08 · Category

Technology & Data2 stats

Over 2,300 ports globally have adopted Port Community System (PCS) or comparable digital platforms that support sustainability and operational optimization workflows (UNCTAD/World Bank industry estimates of connected port digitalization).

In 2022, the US Federal Highway Administration reported that there were 59.7 million registered trucks in the US (vehicle registration statistics from FHWA Highway Statistics Series).

Interpretation

Technology & Data Interpretation

With over 2,300 ports worldwide adopting Port Community Systems or similar digital platforms and the US having 59.7 million registered trucks, the technology and data angle shows sustainability is increasingly being enabled at scale through connected systems that can track and manage large logistics volumes.

09 · Category

Cost & Investment5 stats

In 2023, the International Transport Forum (ITF) reported that 20% of the cost of transitioning heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission systems could be supported by fleet-level procurement policies and financing mechanisms (ITF cost/financing assessment share).

USD 1.5 trillion per year is the estimated global investment needed to decarbonize transport to align with net-zero pathways (ITF/IEA-style investment assessment used by ITF).

USD 14.6 billion was the 2023 global investment in zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure (IEA Global EV Outlook estimate for public and fleet charging investments).

USD 400 billion in annual logistics-related energy costs are estimated to be at stake in global freight and warehousing efficiency improvements (IEA “energy efficiency” emphasis in freight value chain).

3.5% reduction in logistics costs is estimated when implementing route optimization and load planning practices at scale (World Bank/ITF/industry synthesis of operational savings).

Interpretation

Cost & Investment Interpretation

With the transition to zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles estimated to account for 20% of the changeover cost and total decarbonization requiring about USD 1.5 trillion per year globally, the Cost and Investment outlook shows that logistics firms will need to prioritize high impact spending and efficiency gains, especially since route optimization and load planning could cut logistics costs by 3.5%.

report visual · Breakdown

Sustainability momentum in logistics: emissions impact & decision influence

Route optimization can reduce logistics-related CO2 emissions potential, while survey data shows sustainability is increasingly shaping procurement and contract awards.

26%

26% of global GHG emissions are associated with agriculture, forestry and other land use; logistics systems that support

74%

74% of logistics companies indicate sustainability affects procurement decisions (DHL trend reporting)

source-verifiedipcc.ch · dhl.com

Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA

Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Logistics Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-logistics-industry-statistics

MLA

Gabrielle Fontaine. "Sustainability In The Logistics Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-logistics-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Sustainability In The Logistics Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-logistics-industry-statistics.