Towards sustainable last-mile delivery: Insights from GREEN-LOG workshops
Image by GREEN-LOG
In a series of dynamic and collaborative workshops, the EU-funded GREEN-LOG project has made significant strides in its path to redefine last-mile logistics across Europe. The workshops took place in all five Living Labs, namely Ispra, Barcelona, Athens, Flanders, and Oxfordshire, and each brought together relevant stakeholders, experts, and local communities to co-create innovative solutions tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of their respective territories.
Next-generation last-mile delivery, integrating delivery robots
The journey began in Ispra, where stakeholders convened on 29 September 2023 to discuss and co-create efficient last-mile delivery solutions for the Ispra Living Lab. The workshop was hosted at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) premises and organised by e-NOVIA, in collaboration with Living Lab partners and stakeholders.
The JRC in Ispra is where GREEN-LOG solutions will be demonstrated. Autonomous and multimodal delivery solutions that are able to support daily activities by increasing efficiency, reducing errors, and decreasing human involvement, especially in most of the standardised and repetitive operations, will be achieved through the integration of the fleet management system (Yape droids and Measy cargo bikes) with the booking system on the delivery platform.
The workshop addressed challenges such as those related to food hygiene standards, decarbonising logistics, and user motivations. The key outcomes of the workshop focused on the reduction of cardon emissions, promotion of eco-friendly solutions, and user-friendly ordering platforms.
Multimodal last-mile deliveries
Continuing the momentum, the Barcelona workshop was held on 16 November 2023 to explore multi-modal solutions for sustainable logistics. The workshop was organised by VANaPEDAL, Eurecat, AIMSUN, ATM, and Barcelona Living Lab partners.
The suburban area of Barcelona has not taken the opportunity to implement greener delivery methods as intensely as is the case in the urban zone. The Barcelona Living Lab will assess and develop appropriate last-mile delivery models, such as cargo-bike hubs, and lockers, linked to rail stations in a variety of urban contexts that cover Barcelona’s city centre and towns along the metropolitan rail network.
Workshop discussions centred around the integration of cargo-bike hubs with rail lines and different robotic delivery options. Stakeholders emphasised the need for collaboration and shared data to validate innovative models of last-mile delivery.
Next generation last-mile delivery, integrating cargo-bikes and AVs
Next on the agenda was the workshop in Oxfordshire, which took place on 1 December 2023. The workshop was organised by Oxfordshire County Council, FEED, Pedal and Post, the University of Wolverhampton, and other local stakeholders.
GREEN-LOG intends to bring together active players in Oxford’s freight operations to address challenges related to scaling up zero-emission last-mile deliveries in Oxford. Some of the concepts involve the design of movable consolidation points, demonstration of new customised cargo-bike designs, and development of a digital marketplace.
Stakeholders came together at the workshop to discuss innovative models for scaling up cargo-bike logistics services in the region. Discussions focused on addressing various challenges, including the increasing of parcel deliveries, constrained depot capacity, and sustainability goals, and potential use cases to enhance last-mile delivery efficiency and convenience.
Multi-stakeholder collaborations for shared MCCs and optimised cargo-bike use
The Athens workshop, which was organised by ACS (Athens Living Lab leader) and the University of Aegean, took place on 16 February 2024 and brought together stakeholders to strategise sustainable parcel distribution options for the city.
Athens is a densely populated area and faces challenges that have severe impact on urban logistics. The aim of the Living Lab is to establish a network of, for example, logistics service providers, local stakeholders, and businesses to implement micro-consolidation centres (MCCs) in public places that are jointly used by courier companies. In addition, the use of electric vehicles will be introduced and extended.
Workshop attendees highlighted concerns such as unreliable delivery services and inconvenient delivery locations, thereby emphasising the need to refine the GREEN-LOG project to address these points and align with European objectives.
Last-mile urban Logistics-as-a-Service
The Flanders workshop was organised on 6 and 9 February 2024, and it brought together stakeholders from Ghent, Mechelen, and Leuven to discuss the implementation of a Logistics-as-a-Service (LaaS) platform.
The region of Flanders has announced the ambition to introduce zones for zero emission urban freight in cities. The goal is to develop a functional Logistics as-a-Service platform where urban logistics data is used to link demand (e.g., urban freight shipments, on-demand requirements, storage requirements) and supply (e.g., the provision of sustainable logistics services, warehouse space, need for certain types of vehicles) to improve the sustainability of first- and last-mile city logistics.
The workshop highlighted the potential of LaaS in managing urban logistics complexities and improving accessibility, profitability, and efficiency.
These workshops underscored the importance of collaboration and co-creation in developing sustainable last-mile solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of each region. As the GREEN-LOG project continues to evolve, it holds the promise of delivering efficient, user-centric, and environmentally-friendly services to communities across Europe.
Authors: Claudia Ribeiro, Zsofia Jakoi
