Greening Logistics Through and Beyond Transport Efficiency

• ABSTRACTPurposeIn order for logistics to become greener, logistics service providers (LSPs) need to be included in the greening of supply chains. A key to become proactive members of a supply chain is that their business supports the greening of their activities – otherwise greening will not reach beyond single initiatives and demonstration projects. The purpose of this paper is to explore how LSPs’ underlying business logics can help in understanding LSPs green activities and aspects.Design/methodology/approachA multiple case study was carried out of three LSPs in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The analysis relies on the growing literature on LSPs and their environmental efforts, and the business logic is based on a strategic approach to business literature.FindingsThe findings indicate that the efficiency-based business logic commonly applied by LSPs in some respect supports the greening of logistics. Differences among the cases suggest that customer interaction is crucial for realising a greening of LSPs business models.Research limitations/implicationsThe results rely on case studies of large LSPs in the Nordic countries. To a certain extent the results of this research can be generalised also to smaller LSPs, however with restrictions. The results are discussed in relation to the geographical markets for the researched cases.612NOFOMA 2014 Proceedings Copenhagen Business SchoolPractical implicationsThe customer interaction and the customer selection has a great impact on the development of green logistics services, as these aspects both influence the efficiency in the activities and the dynamics in the development of new services.Originality/valueThe business logic approach to greening LSPs’ activities is suggested as important but seldom applied in empirically based research. This paper demonstrates how such an approach can support the identification of viable green efforts among LSPs. Furthermore, the paper contributes to the understanding of environmental issues in relation to the business of LSPs. 

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

logistics service providers

green logistics

business logic

case study

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)