OREANDA-NEWS. United Airlines, in partnership with Sustainable Travel International, today announced the release of an enhanced cargo emissions and offset calculator that quickly computes and presents per capita carbon emissions for customers shipping via United Cargo. United is the only U.S.-based carrier to offer the calculator to its customers.

Recognizing the emerging global trend for increased accountability and the need to report carbon footprint data to shippers, United's user-friendly calculator provides information that is often now expected by its customers. Cargo customers can easily input place of origin and destination for each flight leg, along with the weight of their shipment, in order to quickly determine the total carbon footprint for their shipment using United operational data to provide an accurate result. This tool proves useful in various business-to-business transactions.

The new tool also enables United Cargo to accurately and efficiently respond to shipping request-for-proposals, which increasingly require the inclusion of emissions reporting data.

The cargo calculator is built on the success of United's recently updated emissions and offset calculator for passenger travel that gives customers the opportunity to make a contribution to offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with their travel. The calculation methodology recognizes actual flight data related to aircraft type, routes and seasonality, and considers the effect that additional mass has on emissions stemming from freight transport. The tool offers greater reporting accuracy by applying a next-generation CO2 emissions calculation methodology informed by recent International Air Transport Association and International Civil Aviation Organization analyses as well as European Standards.

The calculator provides customers the opportunity to sponsor high-quality emission reduction projects around the globe. United selected the projects based on geographic relevance to its major hubs, and all of the projects have been third-party verified to internationally recognized standards. The current portfolio of projects includes support for forest conservation in California and Belize and renewable wind energy in Texas.