Gateway Cargo Collaborates with CocoonCarbon®

Gateway Cargo has teamed up with CocoonFMS® to roll out the CocoonCarbon® Calculator, giving their customers the ability to measure, report, and act on supply chain emissions with confidence.

Driving Sustainable Logistics Forward

Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing logistics today. Regulations are tightening, and businesses are under increasing pressure to demonstrate climate action. By adopting CocoonCarbon®, Gateway Cargo is ensuring every customer can access accurate data to support ESG reporting and carbon reduction strategies.

What CocoonCarbon® Delivers for Gateway Cargo Customers

With the CocoonCarbon® Calculator, customers can:

Measure carbon emissions across road, sea, air, and rail.
Track Scope 3 emissions across their supply chain.
Analyse emissions by route, carrier, and mode using GHG Protocol and GLEC Framework.
Generate dashboards and reports that are ESG-ready.
Explore offsetting options with verified reforestation and renewable energy projects.

From small shipments to global supply chains, CocoonCarbon® provides the clarity needed to make better business and climate decisions.

Shared Sustainability Goals

This collaboration reflects both companies’ commitment to low-carbon logistics. CocoonFMS® continues to work with forwarders like Gateway Cargo to integrate emissions measurement directly into freight forwarding, helping customers move towards a greener, more transparent future.

“CocoonCarbon® was designed to make carbon reporting simple, transparent, and accessible. Collaborating with Gateway Cargo ensures more businesses can track and reduce their carbon impact,” said James Blackman, Co-Founder of CocoonFMS®.

Available Now

The CocoonCarbon® Calculator is live and available to all Gateway Cargo customers.

Why Climate Change Denial Hurts Business

Cutting Through the Noise

Every few months, a president or public figure resurfaces with the claim that climate change is exaggerated, cyclical, or even fabricated. These statements grab headlines, but they distract from a far more important conversation: how we as businesses adapt to the reality of a carbon-constrained world.

The logistics industry, sitting at the heart of global trade, has already felt the impacts of climate change. Floods, storms, wildfires, and rising sea levels are disrupting supply chains, delaying shipments, and driving up costs. Dismissing climate science may make for a catchy soundbite, but it doesn’t solve the very real operational and financial challenges that companies face every day.

For freight forwarders, shippers, and logistics providers, the question isn’t whether climate change is real. The evidence is overwhelming. The real question is: how do we turn this challenge into an opportunity to operate more efficiently, cut costs, and build resilience into supply chains?

That’s where tools like CocoonCarbon® and CocoonDEM come in.

The Reality Check: What the Data Actually Shows

Let’s tackle the denial head-on.

Global average temperatures have risen by over 1.1°C since the pre-industrial era.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects that without urgent action, warming could exceed 2°C within decades, with severe impacts on global supply chains.
Transport emissions account for around 24% of global CO₂ emissions, with freight representing 8–11% of that. And unlike power generation, freight is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
Extreme weather events are on the rise. The World Bank estimates climate-related disruptions could cost the logistics sector $1.6 trillion annually by 2050 if left unchecked.

Ignoring these figures doesn’t make them disappear. In fact, denial does the opposite: it blinds leaders to both the risks and the opportunities that come from acting early.

Climate Action as a Business Opportunity

Here’s the truth politicians miss: tackling climate change isn’t just about compliance or corporate responsibility. It’s about business optimisation.

When companies measure their carbon footprint properly, they uncover inefficiencies that were previously invisible. Those inefficiencies almost always cost money. Think of it like turning the lights on in a dark warehouse—you suddenly see where stock is misplaced, where time is wasted, and where money leaks out.

CocoonCarbon® provides this clarity by measuring emissions across Scope 3 Category 4 (upstream transport and distribution) and Scope 3 Category 9 (downstream transport and distribution). That means every container, every shipment, every mile is accounted for.

The insights don’t just generate a carbon number for ESG reports—they create practical strategies to save money:

Reducing supply chain distances
Why ship goods halfway across the world if an equivalent supplier sits closer to home? By mapping the emissions and cost trade-offs, CocoonCarbon® helps businesses make smarter sourcing decisions. Shorter routes mean less carbon, but also faster lead times and reduced risk.
Changing modes of transport
Air freight is fast, but it’s expensive in both carbon and cash. Sea freight is slower, but cheaper and significantly lower in emissions. Rail often provides a sweet spot for cost, speed, and carbon. CocoonCarbon® models these trade-offs so businesses can switch modes with confidence.
Optimising port choices
Congested ports lead to waiting ships, idle containers, and spiralling detention costs. By linking CocoonCarbon® with CocoonDEM, companies can model the benefits of routing through less congested gateways. The result? Lower emissions, fewer hidden costs, and smoother operations.
Consolidating shipments
Half-empty trucks and containers are a hidden emissions trap. Smarter consolidation strategies can cut emissions per unit by 30–40% while slashing transport costs.

Why Denial is Bad for Business

When leaders claim climate change is a hoax, they not only ignore science but also discourage industries from investing in exactly the changes that would save them money.

Consider this:

A forwarder using CocoonCarbon® to reroute freight can cut emissions by 10–20% while simultaneously reducing transport spend.
Shippers that optimise port selection with CocoonDEM can save thousands in demurrage and detention charges that would otherwise go unnoticed until the invoice lands.
Businesses that invest in carbon reduction today are already winning tenders, as more customers demand supply chain transparency.

Denying climate change is more than a political stance—it’s a missed business opportunity.

CocoonCarbon® in Practice: Turning Data into Decisions

Let’s put this into a practical scenario.

Imagine a UK-based importer sourcing electronics from East Asia. Their current process involves:

Air freight for high-value items.
Shipping into Felixstowe, one of the UK’s busiest ports.
Trucking goods to a Midlands warehouse.

On paper, it looks straightforward. In practice, it creates high emissions, congestion delays, and escalating demurrage charges.

By using CocoonCarbon® alongside CocoonDEM, this company discovers:

Sea freight into Liverpool or London Gateway, combined with rail freight inland, cuts emissions by 40% compared to air.
Using less congested ports reduces detention fees by 15%.
Consolidating shipments improves load efficiency, saving a further 12% on cost.

The outcome? Lower carbon, lower costs, faster clearance, and fewer customer complaints.

A Positive Path Forward

It’s easy to get frustrated by denial narratives in politics. But for business leaders, the takeaway should be different: climate change is a driver for innovation and competitiveness.

The logistics sector is already under pressure from razor-thin margins, volatile fuel prices, and shifting customer demands. Adding sustainability into the mix isn’t an extra burden. It’s a lever to tackle all these challenges at once.

At CocoonFMS®, our mission is to make these solutions accessible. CocoonCarbon® and CocoonDEM are practical, business-ready tools designed not just for compliance, but for growth.

When the next presidential claim downplays climate change, logistics leaders don’t need to get drawn into the noise. Instead, they can focus on what truly matters: building supply chains that are smarter, leaner, and greener.

Turning Denial into Determination

The science is clear. The risks are visible. And the opportunities are ready to be seized.

Climate change denial may dominate headlines, but it doesn’t solve supply chain delays, rising costs, or shrinking margins. Measuring and managing emissions, on the other hand, does.

The companies that act today—by using CocoonCarbon® to cut emissions and CocoonDEM to optimise container flows—aren’t just “going green.” They’re gaining competitive edge, protecting profits, and building resilience in a turbulent world.

That’s the real story behind climate change in logistics. And it’s one worth telling louder than any denial speech.

New Rail Emissions Calculator Launches from CocoonCarbon®

Railfreight Gets Its Carbon Moment: New Rail Emissions Calculator Launches from CocoonCarbon®

The railfreight sector has just received a digital boost in its race to net zero. CocoonFMS® Ltd, the logistics software firm behind the fast-growing emissions tracking tool CocoonCarbon®, has unveiled a dedicated Railfreight Carbon Emissions Calculator—built for anyone moving goods by rail who needs fast, accurate, and easy-to-understand emissions data.

And let’s be honest, it’s about time rail had its moment in the carbon conversation.

Why railfreight, and why now?

Railfreight has long been touted as a cleaner alternative to road, air, and even short-sea shipping. But here’s the kicker: despite its greener reputation, very few businesses can confidently quantify the emissions of their rail shipments. Let alone report them properly to stakeholders, finance partners, or ESG frameworks.

That’s where CocoonCarbon® steps in.

“We’ve seen a huge appetite for railfreight—especially in mainland Europe and cross-border movements,” said James Blackman, Managing Partner at CocoonFMS®. “But most calculators on the market either ignore rail entirely or make the process way too complicated. Our new tool solves both problems.”

And yes, it’s fast. Whether you’re shipping a single pallet or 10,000 containers, CocoonCarbon® processes your railfreight data in seconds, calculating full Scope 3 emissions—CO2, NOx, PM, the whole works—from well to wheel.

“What’s your carbon cost?” isn’t just a big business question anymore

While the EU recently watered down some reporting requirements for smaller firms, the truth is that the biggest companies (and their financiers) still need emissions data from everyone in the supply chain. That includes you, the freight forwarder moving two wagons of goods to Rotterdam. Or the 3PL handling pallet loads for a supermarket chain.

Sooner or later, they’ll ask: “How are you measuring your carbon?”

“Whether you’re bidding for tenders, applying for funding, or trying to stay on the right side of a corporate sustainability policy—accurate emissions data isn’t a nice-to-have anymore. It’s essential,” added Blackman. “And railfreight is a key part of that puzzle.”

It’s not just numbers—it’s insight

Let’s face it, most carbon calculators stop at the numbers. Tonnes of CO2, maybe some charts, and that’s about it. But CocoonCarbon® goes a step further. It visualises where emissions spike along your route and lets you play out “what-if” scenarios to see how decisions—like switching to electric first-mile transport or choosing a different terminal—could reduce your impact.

It’s like Google Maps, but instead of time and tolls, you’re optimising for environmental cost.

Better still, the platform shows you how much it would cost to offset remaining emissions using accredited providers—without pretending tree planting fixes everything overnight.

One shipment or a thousand—it doesn’t matter

Unlike other platforms that charge per leg or segment, CocoonCarbon® uses a simple per shipment model. That means predictable pricing, whether you’re calculating for a single consignment or uploading tens of thousands of railfreight moves in bulk.

And if you’re not ready for a full software integration? No worries.

There’s a free web-based version for occasional users, while larger operators can plug the system straight into their TMS using API. It’s designed to work with industry tools, not fight against them.

Built by logistics people, not just software engineers

CocoonCarbon® didn’t emerge from a generic SaaS lab. It was built by a team who’ve worked deep inside the logistics world—folks who’ve wrestled with dodgy spreadsheets, misaligned invoices, and carbon reporting that makes your head hurt.

Since its launch, the platform has calculated over 1.3 million shipments, helping users identify over 7.9 million tonnes of carbon emissions. That’s the equivalent of circling the planet 38,000 times—which gives it a serious data advantage.

And behind it all is CocoonFMS®, a UK-based company that’s proudly carbon neutral, with all servers offset through responsible providers.

So, who should care?

If you’re a freight forwarder trying to stand out in tenders…
If you’re a retailer asking suppliers to get their ESG act together…
If you’re just trying to move stuff by rail without adding to the climate crisis…

This calculator’s for you.

Blackman sums it up like this:

“You can’t reduce what you can’t see. We’re making it easy for the railfreight industry to see—and do something about—its carbon footprint. No greenwashing, no fluff. Just good data that helps you take real action.”

Want to give it a go?

For media enquiries, demo access, or interviews, contact:
📧 [email protected]

Why Rail Freight Is a Smart Move for Carbon Reduction

By James Blackman

When it comes to moving freight efficiently, speed and cost usually dominate the conversation. But in today’s climate-conscious landscape, carbon is quickly becoming the third variable in the equation.

And if you’re trying to cut emissions without compromising on reliability, rail freight offers a powerful middle ground between trucks and ships.

Let’s explore why rail freight is one of the most carbon-efficient modes of transport—and how you can track its impact accurately using CocoonCarbon®.

Rail Freight vs Road and Air – The Emissions Comparison

According to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and DEFRA conversion factors, average CO₂ emissions per tonne-kilometre look like this:

✈️ Air Freight: ~500–600g CO₂ per tonne-km
🚛 Road Freight (HGV): ~100–150g CO₂ per tonne-km
🚆 Rail Freight: ~25–40g CO₂ per tonne-km
🚢 Sea Freight: ~10–40g CO₂ per tonne-km (but longer routes and heavy fuel use)

Rail is up to 5x cleaner than road transport, and significantly better than air—even for intercontinental deliveries that include rail legs (e.g. China–EU via the New Silk Road).

Why Rail Is So Efficient

The physics is simple: steel wheels on steel rails generate far less friction than rubber tyres on tarmac. This means less energy is needed to move the same weight. Combine that with the ability to carry large payloads and, increasingly, the electrification of networks—and rail becomes a green giant.

And let’s not forget:

One freight train = up to an estimated 76 lorries off the road
Lower congestion and fuel waste
Less particulate pollution in cities

The Trouble with Assumptions

While rail freight is clearly more sustainable, not all emissions calculations are created equal. Many companies still rely on generic averages or carbon multipliers that don’t reflect:

The energy mix (diesel vs electric trains)
Route distances or intermodal transfers
Actual load weight or container type
Emissions from first- and last-mile road legs

This is where accurate data becomes essential.

How CocoonCarbon® Tracks Rail Freight CO₂ Accurately

CocoonCarbon® is built to reflect real-world freight operations—including rail. Whether you’re running intermodal services across Europe or block trains from Asia, you get:

✅ Route-specific emissions
✅ Support for electric and diesel rail segments
✅ Integration with your TMS, ERP, or even CSV manifest uploads
✅ Output aligned with ISO 14083 and the GHG Protocol

It also accounts for first-mile trucking, trans-shipment hubs, and last-mile delivery, giving you a complete Scope 3 view of your rail freight carbon footprint.

Use Cases: When Rail Makes the Most Sense

Rail freight shines when:

You’re moving heavy goods over long distances (e.g. steel, timber, automotive parts)
You want to reduce exposure to road tolls, driver shortages, and fuel volatility
Your client has ESG or carbon-neutral goals and needs a compliant partner
You’re shifting containers inland from major ports like Rotterdam, Antwerp or Felixstowe

And when paired with CocoonCarbon®, you can validate and visualise that carbon reduction in real-time.

The Regulatory Advantage

Governments across the UK and EU are actively promoting rail freight through grants, subsidies, and infrastructure investment. Why? Because it’s aligned with climate goals.

If you’re not already offering rail as part of your logistics mix, you could be:

Missing sustainability KPIs
Losing tenders to lower-carbon competitors
Underestimating your Scope 3 footprint

Rail Isn’t Just a Niche Mode—It’s a Carbon Strategy

In a world where carbon transparency is becoming a procurement requirement, rail gives you a low-emissions edge without sacrificing reliability.

And with CocoonCarbon®, you don’t have to guess—you can measure.

🚆 Ready to Put Rail in the Carbon Driver’s Seat?

📊 Track rail freight CO₂ emissions with CocoonCarbon®
✅ Offer smarter routes with verified emissions savings
🌍 Prove your impact—and win the sustainability conversation

Sea Freight CO₂ Emissions – Track Your Maritime Carbon Footprint with Confidence

By James Blackman

Sea freight is the unsung workhorse of global trade. It’s slower than air, cheaper than road (on a per tonne basis), and often considered the “greenest” way to move cargo. But “green” doesn’t mean “clean.”

With 80–90% of world trade moving by sea, maritime freight generates around 3% of global CO₂ emissions—more than most countries.

Yet many freight forwarders still rely on outdated Excel models or carrier assumptions to report shipping emissions.

The result? Inaccurate data, non-compliant reports, and missed opportunities.

Let’s dive into the real-world carbon impact of ocean freight—and how CocoonCarbon® gives you the tools to take control.

Why Maritime Emissions Are Often Underestimated

On a per tonne-km basis, sea freight can emit as little as 10g of CO₂—compared to 600g+ for air. That’s true efficiency. But:

Ocean freight distances are vast—often 10,000+ km
Ship capacities are massive—so poor utilisation skews per-container emissions
Fuel types like HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil) emit high sulphur and black carbon

Example:
A 40ft container from Shanghai to Southampton (19,000+ km round trip) can emit anywhere from 800 kg to 2 tonnes of CO₂, depending on vessel, fuel, and load factor.

The Data Problem in Maritime Carbon Reporting

Freight companies typically receive:

Incomplete data from carriers
CO₂ estimates based on TEU averages
No breakdown by route, vessel, or fuel

That won’t cut it under GHG Protocol Scope 3, ISO 14083, or EU ETS for shipping coming in 2026.

How CocoonCarbon® Brings Ocean Freight into Focus

CocoonCarbon® uses structured data inputs and industry-aligned models to calculate accurate, audit-ready CO₂ emissions for each shipment. Features include:

✅ Vessel-specific emissions models
✅ Routing logic with distance calculation
✅ Fuel-type emissions factors (HFO, VLSFO, LNG, HVO)
✅ Support for FCL, LCL, and reefers
✅ GHG Protocol & IMO aligned calculations

You can upload bill of lading data, plug in your TMS, or use our CSV templates to generate instant reports.

Why It’s Critical for Forwarders and Their Clients

Today’s cargo owners want:

Product-level CO₂ reporting
Lane-level sustainability benchmarking
Carbon transparency for ESG disclosures

If you can’t provide that, they’ll look elsewhere.

With CocoonCarbon®, you don’t just track emissions—you empower your clients with credible, actionable insights.

Maritime Doesn’t Mean Mystery

You can’t reduce what you don’t measure. With regulations tightening and clients demanding data, sea freight emissions reporting is no longer optional—it’s a differentiator.

🌊 Start tracking ocean freight emissions with CocoonCarbon®
📦 Unlock transparent, scalable CO₂ insights
📈 Help your clients ship smarter, cleaner, and with full carbon visibility

Air Freight CO₂ Emissions Calculator – Know Your Carbon, Cut Your Impact

By James Blackman

When a client says, “We need it there yesterday”, air freight delivers. But behind every fast-moving shipment is a much slower, heavier consequence: its carbon footprint.

Air freight is by far the most carbon-intensive mode of transport per kilogram shipped. For companies working to hit net-zero targets, or even just understand their climate impact, that’s a big deal. Yet many businesses still can’t answer a simple question:

“What’s the carbon cost of that pallet we just flew?”

That’s where the CocoonCarbon® air freight CO₂ emissions calculator comes in.

Why Air Freight Has the Highest Emissions Per Tonne

Let’s be clear: aircraft are engineering marvels. But flying goods at 35,000 feet, across thousands of kilometres, with strict weight limits and high fuel consumption—well, it’s no surprise emissions add up fast.

According to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, air freight emissions average:

~500–600g CO₂ per tonne-kilometre for long-haul
Even more for short-haul or express freight using smaller aircraft

That means a single tonne of goods flown from Hong Kong to London (approx. 9,600 km) can generate over 5 tonnes of CO₂.

Multiply that by hundreds of shipments, and you’re staring at a huge Scope 3 emissions figure.

What Makes Emissions Calculation So Difficult?

Many freight forwarders use generic emissions averages or carbon calculators that rely on outdated DEFRA data or fixed multipliers. These give a rough estimate but fall short when clients or regulators ask:

What aircraft was used?
What route did it take?
Was it belly cargo or a full freighter?
What assumptions were made about load factor or fuel efficiency?

Without a robust data model, your carbon reports may be non-compliant or misleading.

How CocoonCarbon® Delivers Air Freight Emissions Accuracy

CocoonCarbon® was built with freight forwarders and logistics teams in mind. Instead of one-size-fits-all formulas, it uses:

✅ Aircraft-specific emissions factors
✅ Route-based distance modelling
✅ Load factor assumptions based on IATA guidelines
✅ Real-time API or CSV integration from your TMS or booking system

You can generate emissions reports by shipment, by client, or by lane. The platform is fully aligned with the GHG Protocol, ISO 14083, and your client’s sustainability expectations.

ommon Air Freight Use Cases – And Carbon Trade-Offs

1. Emergency Supply Chains: Medical, tech or automotive parts where lead time is critical
→ Consider offsetting and smart routing options

2. Fashion & Retail: Flying stock ahead of seasonal deadlines
→ Use CocoonCarbon® to calculate per-product emissions and advise buyers

3. Belly Freight vs Full Freighters:
→ Report by carrier type and compare carbon intensity across services

Having this data means you can justify your transport choices and help your clients make more sustainable ones.

Turn CO₂ Insight Into Strategy

Armed with shipment-level data, you can:

Suggest modal shifts where air is overused
Offset emissions accurately based on verified numbers
Incentivise lower-carbon lanes through procurement policies
Educate clients on their environmental footprint

✈️ Take Your Carbon Reporting to New Heights

Tracking air freight emissions is no longer just about ticking a compliance box. It’s about building credibility, offering transparency, and helping your clients achieve their sustainability goals.

👉 Use CocoonCarbon® to calculate your air freight CO₂ now
📊 Automate Scope 3 emissions tracking
📈 Make carbon performance a competitive advantage

Scope 3 Emissions: Freight’s Hidden Carbon Cost – and How CocoonCarbon® Helps

By James Blackman

Carbon emissions are no longer a distant sustainability metric buried in annual reports—they’re a front-line concern for every supply chain stakeholder. But understanding where emissions come from, especially in freight, isn’t as straightforward as it seems.

You might have heard of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. But what do they really mean in practice—especially for logistics-heavy businesses? And more importantly, how can we measure and manage them?

Let’s break it down—simply, clearly, and with a freight-forwarding lens.

What Are Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions?

Defined by the internationally recognised Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, emissions are categorised into three scopes:

Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources – e.g. your own trucks, company cars, or warehouse boilers.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity or heating/cooling – such as powering your depot or reefer units.
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions that occur in your value chain – including the carbon impact of subcontracted transport, warehousing, packaging, and business travel.

Scope 3 is by far the most wide-reaching—and often the most carbon-intensive.

Why Scope 3 Is the Biggest Challenge for Freight

In the freight industry, most emissions aren’t generated by your own assets. They come from your partners—the hauliers, airlines, ocean carriers, and couriers you subcontract.

That’s why Scope 3 is the freight forwarder’s blind spot.

It includes:

Emissions from third-party transport providers
Downstream delivery to final customers
Packaging, employee commuting, waste disposal, and business travel

For many logistics companies, Scope 3 makes up 80–90% of their total emissions footprint. Yet, it’s the hardest to track—because it sits outside your direct control.

Why You Need to Track Scope 3 Now

With regulations tightening under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the UK’s SECR framework, businesses are increasingly required to report Scope 3 emissions alongside Scope 1 and 2.

This isn’t just about compliance. Your customers are asking for carbon data. Your investors expect climate risk transparency. Your competitors are building carbon calculators into their offerings.

If you don’t start tracking, you’re already falling behind.

How CocoonCarbon® Makes Scope 3 Tracking Simple

CocoonCarbon® is built specifically for freight businesses. Whether you’re a forwarder, 3PL, or transport operator, it helps you measure emissions across every shipment—automatically.

✅ Integrates with your TMS, ERP, or even a CSV
✅ Calculates emissions for sea, air, road, and rail
✅ Aligned with the GHG Protocol and ISO 14083
✅ Breaks down emissions by shipment, customer, or lane
✅ Includes both well-to-wheel and tank-to-wheel calculations

Whether it’s an LCL shipment from China or a pallet run across Europe, CocoonCarbon® ensures you can accurately quantify—and report—your carbon output.

What Sets CocoonCarbon® Apart?

CocoonCarbon® isn’t a generic carbon calculator. It’s designed for the complexity of freight.

Understand your Scope 3 transport emissions in granular detail
Use carrier-specific emissions factors where available
Track use of sustainable fuels like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO)
White-label dashboards to share accurate carbon reports with clients

Unlike broader tools, CocoonCarbon® knows how freight works—and helps you reduce emissions without disrupting operations.

Scope 3 Is Your Freight Carbon Opportunity

Scope 3 is no longer optional. It’s where your risk—and your opportunity—lives.

Track it properly, and you’ll unlock better carrier selection, greener routing decisions, and more accurate reporting to stakeholders.

With CocoonCarbon®, you can finally bring clarity to Scope 3.

✅ Ready to Get Started?

👉 Visit cocooncarbon.co.uk
📞 Book a demo with our team
📈 Take control of your Scope 3 emissions—and make carbon part of your competitive edge

James Blackman
Co-Founder, CocoonFMS® Ltd
Helping logistics companies turn carbon confusion into carbon clarity

Game-changing TMS with new AI feature to be demonstrated at Multimodal

Name of press contact: James Blackman

Date: 1^st May 2025

Phone: 02038 599262

Email: [email protected]

Game-changing TMS with new AI feature to be demonstrated at Multimodal

Freight forwarders and logistics businesses will be able to see a game-changing new transport management system in action at this year’s Multimodal expo in Birmingham.

Leading logistics solutions provider, CocoonFMS, will be demonstrating its unqique cloud-based platform during the three days of the June 17-19 event.

Called CocoonOPS, the innovative system helps freight forwarders streamline operations, cut costs, boost customer satisfaction and reduce their carboon footprint.

Since being launched around 18 months ago, CocoonOPS has won industry accolades and attracted positive feedback from new customers who were frustrated with their previous outdated systems and counter-productive processes.

CocoonOPS is intuitive, easy-to-use and can be set up within a matter of days with little to no training – alleviating any fears about long and complicated on-boarding processes.

It offers a comprehensive suite of transport management features including real-time tracking of shipments via air, sea, road and rail, demurrage and detention costs and alerts, customs declarations in minutes, configurable workflows and automated tasks, document and quotation generation, customer portal, invoice management, foreign exchange rate calculations, carbon emissions reporting and more.

AI-driven customs automation

This year’s Multimodal also includes a brand new focus on AI, helping businesses learn more about how AI can transform their operations.

CocoonOPS, for example, has a strategic partnership with iCustoms.ai which enables customs declarations to be completed in mere minutes.

By taking advantage of iCustoms.ai’s cutting-edge AI capabilities, the customs process is significantly improved, boosting efficiency and ensuring compliance with international trade regulations in a fraction of the time.

Measuring carbon emissions with unique calculation tool

Another key benefit of CocoonOPS is the CocoonCarbon® reporting tool – which is also available as a standalone product for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

CocoonCarbon simplifies Scope 3 carbon emissions tracking for businesses of all sizes, going beyond traditional transport metrics by calculating emissions from well to wheel. This means the entire lifecycle of a vehicle or fuel can be calculated, through both the production and consumption stages.

Unlike other platforms, payment is per shipping, rather than per leg, so the cost is more affordable and more predictable. Up to 10,000 shipments can be calculated in a single upload.

The visual reporting helps businesses identify emissions hotspots in the supply chain, make informed decisions about their chosen transport routes, and potentially reduce costs through optimised routing.

In the last 18 months, CocoonCarbon® has calculated more than 1.2 million shipments, with 7.9 million tonnes of carbon tracked.

CocoonFMS managing partner, James Blackman, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Multimodal this year and showing lots of freight forwarding and logistics businesses how we can make their lives easier.

“We attended in 2024 when the platform was relatively new – although it was years in the making – and secured a number of new clients as a result.

“Since then, we’ve made even more improvements to the system, including the absolutely game-changing partnership with iCustoms.ai.

“Coming from a logistics background myself, I know that so many businesses are stuck using outdated and clunky systems, but they’re afraid to change because of the perceived disruption. However, we want to reassure them that this isn’t the case with CocoonOPS, and this is something we’ll be able to demonstrate in real life for anyone who wants to find out more.

“We’ll be on stand G4 and look forward to welcoming people. Individual demonstrations can be booked via the CocoonFMS website.

ENDS

CocoonFMS Ltd is a UK-based logistics software development company known for its innovative solutions designed to optimise transport management systems. CocoonOPS, their flagship product, offers a cloud-based platform that integrates real-time tracking, financial management, and customer portals to streamline logistics operations.

Driving Change in Freight Tech: CocoonFMS at Multimodal

At the Multimodal exhibition in Birmingham, James from CocoonFMS® discussed the logistics industry’s slow adoption of technology, citing continued reliance on spreadsheets and outdated systems. He emphasised the need for modern, cloud-based, and AI-driven solutions, highlighting that many freight forwarders resist change due to fear and uncertainty, despite long-term efficiency gains.

James explained how AI can enhance logistics by automating tasks like data checks and invoice validation, but clarified that AI is a support tool—not a job killer. He also addressed blockchain’s potential for secure, smart contracts and documentation in freight.

CocoonFMS offers four key products:

Track and Trace system for real-time supply chain visibility.
CocoonCarbon®, a carbon emissions calculator aligned with Scope 3 reporting requirements.
CocoonDEM, a demurrage & detention calculator providing clear cost visibility.
CocoonOPS, a fully cloud-based TMS integrating all systems into one scalable, AI-enhanced platform.

James shared CocoonFMS’s commitment to sustainability, noting they are a carbon-neutral company, have offset over 80 tons of CO₂, and planted nearly 3,000 trees.

He concluded with the brand’s philosophy: “Be better. Do things better.”

Transcript of video

Emma: Welcome to a very hot Multimodal exhibition in Birmingham. I’m here with James from CocoonFMS, and we’re gonna be talking all things tech. So welcome, James. Good to see you.

James: Good to see you too.

Emma: I hear you’ve been in the industry for a little while now.

James: Yes, I’ve been in the industry for just over 13 years. I used to work for Kuehne+Nagel and since then I’ve launched a software company called CocoonFMS.

Emma: Okay. So, you’re investing in and producing tech for the freight industry. Do you think that they’re very receptive to that, or is the logistics industry a bit stuck in the past when it comes to technology?

James: My view is they’re stuck in the past. They’re still working off spreadsheets. They’re still working off old tech, not using the technology which is available out there. And a lot of systems are slow and hard to operate and I think they’re definitely behind the times.

Emma: Do you not feel like the two years that we had when everything shut down, did that not accelerate it a little bit, pick up?

James: I think it did in a way, it highlighted issues in particularly giving visibility to their clients. But I think a lot of the bandwidth was taken about managing the day-to-day with Covid. But a lot more people realized that they needed to go into new tech using stuff like Zoom and Teams, etc., and remote working as well.

Emma: So is it a case of…is it money issues or is it a change management problem, or what’s the reluctance, do you think?

James: I think it’s the old “If the world isn’t broken, why change it?” It’s the fear of changing to something new, which they don’t understand, which is often the case. And also, it’s again, a cost issue. They don’t understand really what it’s gonna cost, but the long term benefits actually weigh out, because if you’ve got the more modern technology, you can optimize the processes and improve efficiency.

Emma: Yeah. Okay. So with that in mind, what sort of technologies should forwarders be investing in?

James: They should look at cloud-based solutions, stuff which is off-prem. Also look at potentially AI, blockchain and other technology which can help improve security automation and processes.

Emma: So you used some interesting buzzwords there, AI, blockchain. Do you feel that people are a little bit scared of those terminologies, they maybe don’t understand…

James: Yes, completely.

Emma: …what it can do.

James: Blockchain particularly that one often gets confused with cryptocurrencies. But there are some added advantages for freight forwarding particularly on transfer a title of bill of ladings, for example, and documentation…

Emma: Secure contracts, that sort of thing.

James: Yeah, smart contracts. But with AI, which is quite new, ChatGPT was only just released six months ago and has taken the world by storm. There’s a real sort of opportunity for AI to help with logistics.

Emma: Is there?

James: But not run logistics.

Emma: Yeah, okay.

James: Which I think a lot of people get afraid of.

Emma: Well, we’re worried about the robots coming and taking over.

James: Yeah, basically.

Emma: So, what role has AI got for the freight forwarder, how can it help?

James: So from an AI point of view, you can automate tasks. So checking data, invoicing, data quality checking, all kinds of stuff to help manage the data, even modeling data. So looking at what you’ve done in the past versus what you’re doing now. So there’s plenty of scope for AI in logistics.

Emma: Okay. To make everything more efficient potentially.

James: Yeah, exactly.

Emma: Is there a reluctance with that because of people worried about losing jobs? I mean, that’s kind of topical, isn’t it?

James: Again, it comes back to the fear factor of the unknown, and also what it can be capable of. It’s sometimes a lot of freight forwarders are still stuck in…and logistics, in a particular way of doing stuff and putting in AI, it’s like, well, where do you fit that into the process? If you’ve got it mapped out correctly and organized correctly, you can work out and use it really, really well. And it can grow and actually improve a lot.

Emma: So it’s not a case to downloading GP and doing your biography. It’s more tailoring what AI can do for your situation.

James: Yeah. So vessels scheduling or checking if something’s had a proof of delivery, checking accuracy of container numbers. All sorts of things.

Emma: Presumably it can crunch through a lot more data faster than us.

James: Yeah. I mean if you took a spreadsheet, trying to manage a spreadsheet, put it through AI or a cloud-based solution, it’ll do it instantly or in a couple of seconds.

Emma: Okay. No robots involved.

James: No robots involved.

Emma: Okay. Good. So tell me a little bit about CocoonFMS then.

James: So CocoonFMS, we started August 2020 when we officially started. We’ve developed four pieces of software to help the logistics industry. Our first product was a track and trace system which bolts onto other TMSs, transport management systems, which gives clients full visibility of their supply chain. That includes real-time vessel tracking, document uploads, booking shipments, etc., and reporting as well. So we’ve got a whole reporting suite. We’ve also got a carbon calculator, which can calculate the carbon emissions for a shipment from the place it’s collected to the place it’s delivered and everything in between.

Emma: Which is becoming more important with legislation changing obviously.

James: Massively important. And again, the logistics industry are slightly behind. Obviously, some of the big players have got their own technology to manage this, but particularly for small companies who will be a supplier of a larger company, will be asked this to supply this information, which is known as Scope 3. And our tool helps them do that with actionable information.

Emma: Because it feels daunting if you haven’t got a plug and play solution.

James: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it will be really hard to do the calculation. So this we can calculate one shipment or hundreds almost instantly with an actionable result and a cost if you wanted to do the offsetting. We’ve got a demurrage and detention calculator which, again, helps with the automation of calculating the costs for demurrage and detention, which is a massive problem which is often not talked about. And it’s our system designed to give one version of the truth, so the customer of the freight forwarder can see exactly where the container is, what the cost is, and not suddenly get a bill further down the line…

Emma: Nasty surprise. Yeah.

James: Yeah, nasty surprise. But it also helps the freight forwarder manage their time better and manage their planning and deliveries better as well. Delivering collections from port. And our final product is our operation system, CocoonOPS, which is a transport management system, 100% cloud-based. It will incorporate all of our other systems to enable freight forwarders to manage their system…

Emma: With one solution effectively.

James: Yeah, one solution, which takes care of it all, all online, don’t need any special software, easy to use.

Emma: Okay. Cost effective presumably because it’s scalable.

James: Completely. Yeah. It will have a bit of AI in there. And the aim is to make it so that ops are 100% efficient all the way through.

Emma: Okay. So why Cocoon?

James: It’s a bit of a story around that is a cocoon is where the birth of something great, and FMS is freight management. So we just combined the two. We’ve got something great. And what we want to do is do things better. Be better, do things better.

Emma: Okay. So obviously the environment is very important to the industry and to companies everywhere at the moment. What’s Cocoon doing?

James: Cocoon’s very, very active in this area. We’re a carbon neutral company. We’ve been doing it since we concepted, all our servers are offset by our providers. We also do additional offsetting off the back of that. As a company we’re quite light on carbon, but to date we’ve done over 80 tons of offsetting. Planted close to nearly 3000 trees. So we are very focused on that. Absolutely everything we’ve got, we try and do carbon neutral.

Emma: Okay. So it as close to your heart as a company?

James: Yeah, it’s part of the core.

Emma: Part of the core. Brilliant. Okay. Well James, it’s been great meeting you and speaking to you today. Thank you very much for your time.

James: Likewise. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Do you follow GLEC

Are We on the Same Page with GLEC?

What is GLEC, Anyway?

Why GLEC Matters to Us

Questions You Might Have

How We Help You Get There

Real-Life Examples

What’s Next for You?

Gateway Cargo Collaborates with CocoonCarbon®

Driving Sustainable Logistics Forward

What CocoonCarbon® Delivers for Gateway Cargo Customers

Shared Sustainability Goals

Available Now

Why Climate Change Denial Hurts Business

Cutting Through the Noise

The Reality Check: What the Data Actually Shows

Climate Action as a Business Opportunity

Why Denial is Bad for Business

CocoonCarbon® in Practice: Turning Data into Decisions

A Positive Path Forward

Turning Denial into Determination

New Rail Emissions Calculator Launches from CocoonCarbon®

Why railfreight, and why now?

“What’s your carbon cost?” isn’t just a big business question anymore

It’s not just numbers—it’s insight

One shipment or a thousand—it doesn’t matter

Built by logistics people, not just software engineers

So, who should care?

Want to give it a go?

Why Rail Freight Is a Smart Move for Carbon Reduction

Rail Freight vs Road and Air – The Emissions Comparison

Why Rail Is So Efficient

The Trouble with Assumptions

How CocoonCarbon® Tracks Rail Freight CO₂ Accurately

Use Cases: When Rail Makes the Most Sense

The Regulatory Advantage

Rail Isn’t Just a Niche Mode—It’s a Carbon Strategy

🚆 Ready to Put Rail in the Carbon Driver’s Seat?

Sea Freight CO₂ Emissions – Track Your Maritime Carbon Footprint with Confidence

Why Maritime Emissions Are Often Underestimated

The Data Problem in Maritime Carbon Reporting

How CocoonCarbon® Brings Ocean Freight into Focus

Why It’s Critical for Forwarders and Their Clients

Maritime Doesn’t Mean Mystery

Air Freight CO₂ Emissions Calculator – Know Your Carbon, Cut Your Impact

Why Air Freight Has the Highest Emissions Per Tonne

What Makes Emissions Calculation So Difficult?

How CocoonCarbon® Delivers Air Freight Emissions Accuracy

ommon Air Freight Use Cases – And Carbon Trade-Offs

Turn CO₂ Insight Into Strategy

✈️ Take Your Carbon Reporting to New Heights

Scope 3 Emissions: Freight’s Hidden Carbon Cost – and How CocoonCarbon® Helps

What Are Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions?

Why Scope 3 Is the Biggest Challenge for Freight

Why You Need to Track Scope 3 Now

How CocoonCarbon® Makes Scope 3 Tracking Simple

What Sets CocoonCarbon® Apart?

Scope 3 Is Your Freight Carbon Opportunity

✅ Ready to Get Started?

Game-changing TMS with new AI feature to be demonstrated at Multimodal

Game-changing TMS with new AI feature to be demonstrated at Multimodal

AI-driven customs automation

Measuring carbon emissions with unique calculation tool

Driving Change in Freight Tech: CocoonFMS at Multimodal

Transcript of video