» Irish Rail Leads the Way in Measuring Supply Chain Emissions with the CIF Carbon Calculator

Sector Transport

Irish Rail Leads the Way in Measuring Supply Chain Emissions with the CIF Carbon Calculator

Discover how Action Sustainability supported Irish Rail in engaging suppliers and embedding a unified carbon reporting framework across its supply chain through the implementation and use of the CIF Carbon Calculator

The Challenge

As Ireland’s national railway operator and port authority for Rosslare Europort, Irish Rail recognised that the majority of their carbon footprint lies within the supply chain.

While significant progress had been made in reducing their direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2), their supply chain emissions (Scope 3) remained complex and difficult to measure.

Irish Rail needed a consistent and credible way to measure and manage their indirect emissions, both to meet government targets and to respond to increasing stakeholder expectations around sustainability reporting.

Our Approach

Founding Partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School Ireland: To address this, Irish Rail partnered with the Supply Chain Sustainability School Ireland and adopted the CIF Carbon Calculator.
Adoption of the CIF Carbon Calculator: Through the School, vendors were engaged in training and learning, ensuring they understood not only the importance of reporting but also how to provide accurate data.
Supplier Training and Engagement: The CIF Carbon Calculator provided an easy-to-use,standardised approach to carbon reporting across the supply chain.
Establishing a Framework for Long-Term Impact: Together, these initiatives enable a consistent methodology for capturing Scope 3 data, while also fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the supply chain.

“The CIF Carbon Calculator has transformed how we understand and manage our supply chain emissions. Having a consistent and reliable method of measuring our supply chain’s carbon emissions means we can clearly see where the biggest impacts are and take meaningful action. It has also strengthened engagement with our vendors, as we are now all working to the same standard and towards the same goal. This shared approach is building stronger collaboration and giving us the confidence to push forward on our decarbonisation journey”

Seán McCaffrey Supplier Performance Manager

The Results & Impact

By embedding the CIF Carbon Calculator, Irish Rail achieved a more accurate and transparent picture of their supply chain emissions enabling them to:

Begin establishing a clear baseline for Scope 3 emissions.
Identify hotspots where carbon reduction strategies could deliver the greatest impact.
Strengthen relationships with vendors through shared sustainability goals and collaboration.
Enhance reporting credibility in line with best practiceand stakeholder expectations.

Beyond measurement, this collaboration has laid the foundation for long-term carbon reduction strategies. With improved visibility and stronger vendor engagement, Irish Rail are now better positioned to drive collective action across the supply chain, supporting Ireland’s wider decarbonisation journey and setting a benchmark for sustainable transport in Ireland.