News

Normec Verifavia Achieves Key Milestone: Approved by Smart Freight Centre as MBM Verifiers

We are pleased to share that our business unit has achieved a significant milestone, having been officially approved as verifiers for the Market-Based Measures (MBM) Specification within the Smart Freight Centre’s (SFC) conformity assessment scheme. This announcement follows our recent participation in the Smart Freight Week, hosted by the Smart Freight Centre (SFC). 

The Smart Freight Centre, a leading global non-profit organization, is dedicated to accelerating the transition to sustainable freight. Their conformity assessment scheme establishes a standardized framework for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions within the freight industry. The MBM Specification focuses on the verification of market-based measures used to claim the environmental attributes of the interventions, such as fuel switch or electrification of trade lanes. 

While the industry searches for a more permanent solution to freight decarbonisation, biofuels and e-fuels have tremendous potential as transition fuels. The major challenge remains the investment and deployment of biofuels on a larger scale. The MBM Specification within the Smart Freight Centre’s conformity assessment scheme is grounded in the Market-Based Measures Accounting Framework. This framework outlines the methodology for applying a market-based accounting approach to the quantification and reporting of transportation greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the accounting framework utilizes a “book and claim” chain of custody approach, which allows the following: 

  • Freight Providers or solution providers: To allocate environmental attributes to organizations contributing to the cost of lower-impact solutions, regardless of where the fuel is actually burned. 
  • Purchasers: To support and report the environmental attributes of lower-impact transportation services, irrespective of the physical transportation of their specific goods on those services. 

This approach enables broader participation in and support for lower-emission freight transport, providing a more flexible and accessible pathway for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to emissions reduction. The transfer of environmental attributes is facilitated through reliable tracking systems, which ensure accuracy and transparency. While companies can manage this process internally, many opt for independent third-party registries that create secure, auditable records of each claim, preventing double counting and maintaining system integrity. By democratizing access to sustainable fuel benefits, this approach makes decarbonization more feasible for a wider range of industry players. 

Looking Ahead: 

Normec Verifavia is eager to leverage its approval to support organizations in their book and claim programs. As accredited verifiers, we do more than ensure compliance—we provide in-depth analysis to validate every claim with accuracy and integrity. With experience in both internal ledgers and independent registries, we understand the complexities of these systems and have the technical expertise to verify their processes. Having encountered common pitfalls such as double counting, we help you navigate challenges effectively and give you the confidence and tools to communicate your sustainability achievements with certainty. 

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