The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) has announced the completion of the second phase of its Low Emission Freight Certificate (LEFC) collaboration, a milestone in designing a new national system to help reduce emissions from Aotearoa New Zealand’s heavy freight sector.
The proposed system is designed to reward freight operators investing in cleaner technologies, such as hydrogen and electric trucks, by generating certificates that can be purchased by businesses seeking to reduce their Scope 3 supply chain emissions. This mechanism offers companies a clear and credible pathway to decarbonise their freight footprint. If implemented, the LEFC would be a world-first scheme, setting a new benchmark for transparency, accountability, and innovation in emissions reduction.
As one of the technical experts engaged in the project, Toitū Envirocare participated in the early ideation workshops to develop the system’s concept. Our role helped ensure the LEFC framework is aligned with international best practice, and provides businesses with confidence in the integrity of reported emissions reductions. By contributing to the development of robust standards for freight decarbonisation, Toitū is helping create the infrastructure businesses need to take meaningful climate action.
With the design phase now complete, SBC is seeking a provider to establish and operate the registry that will underpin the system. If realised, the LEFC will not only support freight providers making the switch to low-emission vehicles but also empower New Zealand businesses to demonstrate credible emissions reductions across their supply chains.
See the full announcement and learn how to get involved on the SBC website.
Decarbonising Heavy Freight: Explore the LEFC System
Climate leaders: discover the new Low Emission Freight Certificate system and what it means for your organisation. Watch the full webinar below from the Sustainable Business Council, for insights on how businesses can create traceable emissions reductions via heavy freight decarbonisation, why the focus is on insetting not offsetting, and how this mechanism could one day plug directly into your Scope 3 strategy and brand integrity.
Please note that this article was originally published on 10 September 2025 and updated on 12 November 2025 to include the webinar recording.