Decarbonizing logistics and transportation: How to balance cost, lead time and emissions - Partner Insights

The following has been produced by AFRY, Combient Pure's partner in organizing the 2026 Scope 3 Decarbonization Accelerator. Join us for the final event of the 2026 Accelerator, a workshop on Decarbonizing Logistics & Transportation, in Stockholm on November 10, 2026 (open only to Combient Associated Companies). The workshop will bring together experts and company cases to explore how Combient Associated Companies can meaningfully reduce value chain emissions linked to both upstream and downstream logistics.

What role does logistics and transportation play in Scope 3 decarbonization?

Transportation and distribution are an essential part of modern value chains, enabling companies to source materials, serve customers, and operate across global markets. For many companies, emissions associated with the transportation and distribution of goods represent a substantial share of their Scope 3 footprint. Logistics is therefore becoming an increasingly important area of focus, and the topic of our third Scope 3 Decarbonization Accelerator event taking place November 10th in Stockholm.

Transport by road, rail, sea and air contributes to these emissions, and so does the energy used in warehouses and logistics hubs. The transportation sector remains particularly hard to decarbonize because it is highly competitive, price sensitive, and customers expect speed and flexibility. Many of the solutions already exist, and for most companies the challenge no longer lies in what to do, but in how to make it commercially viable. That means deciding who pays for the transition and how to balance cost, lead time, and emissions in everyday logistics decisions.

Multiple pathways are emerging to decarbonize logistics

In the Nordic countries, electrification is progressing rapidly in road transport. Investments in charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles are growing, and fleet operators across the region are increasingly piloting and deploying battery-electric trucks on regional and short-haul routes. For long-distance road freight, maritime transport and aviation, alternative fuels such as renewable fuels and emerging e-fuels are attracting increasing attention. Companies are also exploring opportunities to shift freight from road to rail and to reduce transport demand through smarter supply chain design. Digital tools, route optimization, and improved network planning are helping companies identify ways to reduce both transportation work and emissions while maintaining service levels.

However, each lever comes with different costs, lead times, and operational constraints, which makes deciding where and when to apply them a commercial decision as much as a technical one.

Reducing costs and emissions through optimization

Another important lever for reducing logistics emissions is supply chain network design. Decisions regarding facility locations, inventory placement, and transportation flows can significantly influence both emissions and costs, while shaping how efficiently goods move through the network. With a vast number of possible supply chain configurations, optimization provides a quantitative approach to identifying the network design that best meets the defined targets, whether that be minimizing costs, emissions, or a combination of both. It enables an objective assessment of current operations, supports sensitivity analysis, and provides fact-based insights to guide strategic decision-making.

During the workshop on November 10th, AFRY will explore these questions through real-world optimization cases and discuss how companies can use such insights to support decisions that are both cost-effective and lower in emissions.

Join the workshop in Stockholm on November 10, 2026 to learn more (open only to Combient Associated Companies).

Photo by Venti Views on Unsplash

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