Road Freight: France’s Largest Emitting Sector
Before presenting our results, some context. In France, the transport sector is the leading source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for around 31% of national emissions, according to the latest figures from the Commissariat général au développement durable (CGDD : the French General Commission for Sustainable Development). Within that sector, road freight dominates: heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and light commercial vehicles alone account for nearly 42% of transport-related emissions.
This is the sector in which Astr’in has operated for more than 20 years. It is also the sector facing growing regulatory and social pressure: Low Emission Zones (LEZs), LTCS targets (-28% in transport emissions by 2030 vs. 2015), mandatory Scope 3 reporting for large companies… Shippers are holding their hauliers to account. And rightly so.
The French Low-carbon National Strategy (LTCS / SNBC) sets a target of 28% reduction in transport sector emissions by 2030 compared to 2015, and aims for near-total decarbonisation by 2050. The current rate of progress (estimated at -0.8% in 2025 according to Citepa) falls far short of what is needed. Companies acting now are gaining a decisive head start.
How We Calculate Our Road Freight Carbon Footprint
Our carbon footprint report is prepared in accordance with the methodology set by ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition). It covers all kilometres travelled by our alternative-fuel fleet throughout 2025.
The principle is straightforward: we compare the actual emissions from our B100 and CNG fleet with the emissions that the same mileage would have generated had those vehicles run on conventional diesel. The difference is the CO₂ avoided.
5 464 t
of CO₂ avoided in 2025
by the Astr’in fleet running on alternative fuels (B100)
This result is directly linked to the proportion of our fleet running on alternative energy. Today, approximately one third of our trucks run on B100 (Oleo100) or CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).
6 Ways to Visualise 5,464 Tonnes of CO₂
🚗 3 500French car drivers whose full annual mobility footprint is erased | ✈️ 1 561return flights Paris–New York in economy class |
🌳 218 546mature oak trees absorbing CO₂ for an entire year | 🏠 2 732gas-heated homes over a full year |
🌍 1 137 ×the circumference of the Earth by car — 45.5 million km not driven | 🍔 1,3 millionbeef burgers offset in terms of carbon footprint |
Sources: French car driver carbon footprint (ADEME, 120 g CO₂/km, 13,000 km/year); Paris–New York flight (1,750 kg CO₂ per passenger one-way, economy class); mature oak tree absorption capacity (25 kg CO₂/year); residential gas heating (2,000 kg CO₂/year per dwelling); beef burger (4 kg CO₂ per unit).
B100 (Oleo100): How Does It Work?
B100 is a 100% plant-based biofuel, produced from rapeseed grown and processed in France. It can be used in the diesel engines of HGVs with no major vehicle modification for pre-Euro 6 powertrains, and with a simple retrofit for more recent ones.
Its environmental performance is certified by ADEME: B100 delivers a reduction of at least 60% in CO₂ emissions compared to fossil diesel, calculated over the full life cycle (well-to-wheel). It also reduces fine particulate emissions by up to 80% — a significant benefit for urban air quality.
Why Choose B100 Over Electric or Hydrogen?
The question is a legitimate one. Electric and hydrogen are the long-term solutions for heavy road transport, but they still face concrete obstacles today: limited range for electric HGVs, insufficient charging and refuelling infrastructure, and very high acquisition costs.
B100 has a decisive advantage: it is operational now, without waiting for 2030 or 2035. It integrates into an existing fleet without changing driver habits, with no range constraints, and at a cost competitive with diesel (B100 pricing is indexed to diesel, which eliminates price volatility).
This is precisely why Astr’in made this choice, well before B100 was on the radar of major operators. We were convinced that the energy transition in road transport could not wait for technologies that were still immature.
Astr’in has also trialled 2 electric trucks over a two-month period and continues to monitor this technology closely.
CNG: The Other Pillar of Our Clean Fleet
Alongside B100, Astr’in also operates trucks running on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). CNG has characteristics that complement those of B100, and is particularly suited to certain operational profiles.
Compared to diesel, CNG delivers a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions, along with a substantial decrease in fine particulate and nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) emissions : a direct benefit for air quality in urban areas served by our routes
13 Years Reducing Carbon Emissions in Road Transport
What sets Astr’in’s approach apart is not just the 2025 result : it is the longevity of the commitment.
In 2012, Astr’in joined the Objectif CO₂ programme, and subsequently the EVcom programme, both run by ADEME.
- Objectif CO₂ is aimed at transport operators. We have been participating in this scheme since 2012.
- EVcom is aimed at freight forwarders, with the goal of encouraging subcontractors to use cleaner fuels and to develop load consolidation. Our commitment dates from 2024 and covers the period 2023–2026.
This is a voluntary approach: no regulation requires it. We commit to measuring our emissions, defining reduction targets, and reporting on our progress.
At the time, very few regional hauliers were taking this path.
More than ten years on, this commitment has produced concrete, measurable results. The alternative-fuel fleet has grown steadily. Route optimisation processes have been refined. And each year, our carbon report allows us to verify that we are moving in the right direction and identify where we can improve further.
For comparison, in 2023 we saved approximately 790 tonnes of CO₂.
We improved this result by nearly 600% in 3 years.
ADEME has supported Astr’in in its emissions reduction approach since 2012. Accredited companies commit to measurable, verifiable targets.
What This Means for You: Scope 3
This is the question that your CSR and procurement teams are increasingly focused on: your service providers’ emissions count towards your own carbon footprint. This is what is known as Scope 3, the indirect emissions associated with your value chain.
For many industrial or commercial companies, transport and logistics represent a significant share of that Scope 3. Choosing a haulier whose fleet is partially decarbonised means directly reducing your own carbon footprint, without changing your operations.
Astr’in provides you with the emission data specific to your freight flows: tonnage carried, distance, fuel used, associated CO₂. This data is directly usable in your GHG inventory (mandatory corporate carbon assessment / BEGES) and in your CSR reports.
Companies with more than 500 employees are required to carry out a GHG inventory (BEGES) every 4 years. In any case, Scope 3, including transport, is coming under ever-greater scrutiny from investors, clients and stakeholders.
What’s Next: The Road Ahead
Astr’in is not stopping at 30% clean fleet. Our goal is to progressively increase the share of alternative-fuel trucks in our operations.
We are also monitoring environmental studies, new vehicle technologies, and newly available energy sources.
The energy transition in road freight is under way. It will not happen overnight. But it is happening — kilometre by kilometre, truck by truck.
Summary
- 5,464 tonnes of CO₂ saved in 2025 by the Astr’in fleet running on B100 and CNG
- 30% of our fleet runs on alternative fuels, a proportion that increases every year
- A commitment made in 2012 under ADEME’s EVcom programme, well ahead of any regulatory requirement
- B100 (Oleo100) reduces CO₂ emissions by at least 60% compared to fossil diesel, according to ADEME
- Your Scope 3 emissions fall directly when your haulier runs cleaner
Astr’in provides you with CO₂ data for your freight flows, ready for use in your GHG inventory
Your transport provider can change your Scope 3 carbon footprint. At Astr’in, we provide your emission data by freight flow, by period and by client. Contact our teams to find out more.
→ +33 (0)4 74 46 16 16 | transports-astrin.com/contact-us