As the pressure to reduce carbon emissions grows, so too does the need for transparency, accurate reporting, and smart decision-making. That’s why we’ve launched Carbon Track, a new set of sustainability tools inside our software, designed to help our clients (and their clients) measure, manage, and reduce their courier-related emissions.
With road transportation accounting for approximately 15% of global carbon emissions alone, the sector’s significant impact on climate change is clear, with room for change.
What is Carbon Track?
Carbon Track allows MetaMail users to:
- View and select courier services based on carbon impact
- Access reporting on emissions generated per parcel or over time
- Categorise services by carbon output, speed or cost
- Track estimated CO₂ emissions and offsets
- Consolidate carbon reporting across suppliers
This means our users can now actively choose greener options when booking same-day deliveries, and back those decisions with clear, consolidated data — helping their organisations meet internal targets, satisfy shareholder expectations, and comply with government regulations.
Who is it for?
Carbon Track is ideal for:
- Corporate mailrooms booking outbound couriers for multiple departments or client
- Managed service providers who need to generate carbon reports for their end customers
- Procurement and facilities teams looking to reduce Scope 3 emissions
- Courier companies wanting to offer greener service comparisons and upsell sustainability features
Smarter, Greener Booking
At the point of booking, Carbon Track now gives users the ability to filter and rank services by their estimated emissions. For example, users can compare:
- Greenest (e.g. cargo bike, pushbike)
- Quickest (e.g. motorbike or small van)
- Cheapest (across suppliers)
They can even see estimated CO₂ savings compared to a standard small diesel van, encouraging smarter, lower-carbon choices.
Real Impact, Real Data
From the moment a job is booked, Carbon Track begins estimating emissions based on:
- Vehicle type (bike, motorbike, van, etc.)
- Distance travelled
- Supplier green zones or service areas
- Client-entered emissions factors
While courier companies don’t yet provide real-time carbon data via API, we’ve developed our own flexible methodology for estimating emissions, informed by publicly available standards like the Carbon Footprint Calculator and verified sources.
What’s more, if a greener option is selected but the job is later reassigned to a different vehicle type, Carbon Track stores both the estimated and actual emissions for full transparency.
Reporting, Offsetting, and Compliance
Carbon Track integrates with both MetaMail and DataSense reporting. That means you can now generate:
- Basic reports within MetaMail
- Miles travelled per shipment
- Total CO₂ emissions per vehicle type
- Emissions per job or cost centre
- Miles travelled per shipment
- Advanced reports via DataSense
- Cost savings from green vehicle usage
- Missed opportunities (e.g. van used where cargo bike was available)
- Offset tracking — including how much carbon needs to be purchased for net-zero targets
- Cost savings from green vehicle usage
These reports support sustainability audits, internal reporting, and compliance with external frameworks like SECR, CDP and ESG commitments.
Why It Matters
Sustainability is no longer a side conversation — it’s a business imperative. For our clients, offering greener delivery services isn’t just about ethics. It’s about:
- Winning and retaining contracts
- Meeting public and private sector expectations
- Avoiding greenwashing by backing claims with data
- Leading the market with actionable insights
At Metafour, we’re proud to be the first to bring this level of functionality to mailroom software.
And based on the response at recent client events it’s clear that Carbon Track is already a compelling business tool.
Want to Know More?
If you’re a current client looking to activate Carbon Track or want a demo of how it works, get in touch with your Metafour account manager. We’re here to help you book smarter, reduce emissions, and lead the way in sustainable delivery.
Here are some of our unique data showcasing how Metafour impacts carbon emissions:
Number of items by Vehicle Type
Total cost by Vehicle Type
Total Grams of CO2 over time
Grams of CO2 vs Month
