How South African mining exporters calculate and declare Scope 3 logistics emissions for the EU's Green Logistics Corridors initiative. The carbon accounting methodology for the Saldanha Bay to Rotterdam shipping route.
Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting company — including upstream emissions from purchased goods and services, and downstream emissions from the use and disposal of sold products. For mining companies, the most significant Scope 3 category is Category 4 (Upstream Transportation and Distribution) — the emissions from transporting ore from the mine to the port and from the port to the EU destination. The EU's Green Logistics Corridors initiative is developing standards for low-carbon shipping routes, and the National DPP Registry's mining DPP template includes a Scope 3 logistics emissions field that calculates the carbon footprint of the Saldanha Bay to Rotterdam shipping route.
The primary shipping route for South African iron ore and manganese is from Saldanha Bay (Western Cape) to Rotterdam (Netherlands) — a distance of approximately 9,500 nautical miles. Using the IMO's Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) methodology, the carbon intensity of this route is calculated in grams of CO2 per tonne-nautical mile. The National DPP Registry provides a logistics carbon calculator that uses the vessel's CII rating (provided by the shipping company) and the cargo weight to calculate the Scope 3 logistics emissions per tonne of mineral exported. This data is embedded in the DPP and is machine-readable by EU customs and logistics systems.
The EU's FuelEU Maritime Regulation (2023/1805) sets mandatory greenhouse gas intensity targets for ships calling at EU ports, with targets increasing annually from 2025 to 2050. Ships carrying South African mineral exports to EU ports must comply with FuelEU Maritime, and the carbon intensity of the shipping leg is a component of the product's overall carbon footprint. South African mining companies that choose shipping partners with high CII ratings (A or B) can declare a lower Scope 3 logistics carbon footprint in their DPP — a competitive advantage in EU markets where buyers are under pressure to reduce their supply chain emissions.
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