Sustainability assessment of last-mile logistics and distribution strategies: The case of local food networks

Melkonyan, Ani and Gruchmann, Tim and Lohmar, Fabian and Kamath, Vasanth V P and Spinler, Stefan (2020) Sustainability assessment of last-mile logistics and distribution strategies: The case of local food networks. International Journal of Production Economics, 228. pp. 1-17.

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Abstract

Current trends related to increased sustainability requirements, the application of new digital technologies, and changes in consumer behavior have disrupted conventional food supply chains, entailing challenges for the last mile logistics and distribution of food products. The main aim of this study is to develop a toolset for exploring the sustainability potential of last mile logistics and distribution strategies, employing (1) a centralized distribution network with a click & collect option, (2) a decentralized distribution network with a home-delivery option, and (3) a distributed network based on a crowd logistics concept. For this, a system dynamics (SD) simulation and a multi-criteria decision aid (MCDA) were applied to assess the sustainability performance of these distribution channel options for a case study of a local food cooperative and a logistics service provider in Austria. The sustainability potential of developing a new logistics system in collaboration with these players has been estimated for the first time, while considering the dynamic interplay of all relevant sustainability elements within operational, tactical, and strategic planning. The results show that an integration of the two players into a distributed network strategy based on a crowd logistics concept is the most viable and sustainable option. This highlights the significant role of the logistics sector in proactively innovating services to make sustainable choices easier for the customer

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Local food Distribution; Last mile logistics System; dynamics Multi-criteria decision aid
Subjects:	Operations Management Operations Management > Logistics_Supply Chain Management
Divisions:	Finance and Strategy
Depositing User:	Mr. Muralidhara D
Date Deposited:	15 May 2020 09:50
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2020 04:02
URI:	http://tapmi.informaticsglobal.com/id/eprint/655

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