ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES ADOPTED BY LOGISTICS SERVICE PROVIDERS IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY– AN OVERVIEW IN THE BRAZILIAN CONTEXT

PurposeThis paper discusses logistics service providers' (LSPs’) energy efficiency initiatives for sustainable development, both from an evolutionary perspective and based on a framework consisting of actions, processes (i.e. at the operations interface) and services (i.e. at the customer interface).Design/methodology/approachFollowing a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with sustainability managers at LSPs and the data were analysed via inductive coding. Based on the results and the literature, the authors developed a maturity model for LSPs' transitions to environmental sustainability.FindingsLSPs' sustainable development occurs via operational processes, services at the customer interface, and actions that support those processes and services. Energy efficiency efforts are characterised by process depth that helps LSPs to align with their customers' energy efficiency improvement processes. While services related to energy efficiency connect LSPs and their customers, actions in support vary depending on the logistics activities in which LSPs participate.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed to test and verify the maturity model and to clarify the interdependency of its three dimensions.Practical implicationsBy categorising energy efficiency initiatives and proposing a maturity model for LSPs' sustainable development via energy efficiency, the authors have developed a tool for logistics actors to assess their progress towards improved sustainability.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature by providing a three-pillar framework to understand the sustainability transitions of LSPs through energy efficiency. Developing a maturity model using this framework also contributes to the literature with an approach to assess sustainability advancement in the logistics industry.

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The Roles of Logistics Service Providers and Supply Chain Integration in Global Supply Chain

Global Intermediation and Logistics Service Providers - Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-2133-4.ch014 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 265-285 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kijpokin Kasemsap

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Inventory Management ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Service Providers ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Value Added ◽

Global Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chain Integration ◽

Logistics Service ◽

Logistics Service Providers

This chapter explains the overview of logistics service providers (LSPs); LSPs' competitive advantage and logistics performance; LSPs, city logistics, and freight distribution in megacities; LSPs and cloud computing utilization; LSPs, green supply chain, and environmental sustainability; the prospect of supply chain integration (SCI); and the important aspects of SCI in global supply chain. LSPs can share responsibility for managing global supply chain, keeping stores properly stocked, and delivering the perfect order every time. Carriers and logistics intermediary perform more roles than what people think they do, because network connection and the ambition to remain competitive make them to take up value-added services. SCI is a network of businesses and contractors that provide raw materials, transportation, manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, and retailing services. Through SCI, operating flexibility and tight inventory management lead to a lower cost structure, which results in higher profit margins.

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Environmental sustainability in the service industry of transportation and logistics service providers: Systematic literature review and research directions

Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment ◽

10.1016/j.trd.2017.04.032 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 454-470 ◽

Cited By ~ 94

Author(s):

Piera Centobelli ◽

Roberto Cerchione ◽

Emilio Esposito

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Service Industry ◽

Service Providers ◽

Research Directions ◽

Logistics Service ◽

Logistics Service Providers

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Knowledge management in environmental sustainability practices of third-party logistics service providers

VINE ◽

10.1108/vine-02-2015-0012 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 509-529 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Pietro Evangelista ◽

Susanne Durst

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Service Providers ◽

Third Party ◽

Third Party Logistics ◽

Content Type ◽

Service Companies ◽

Logistics Service ◽

Logistics Service Providers ◽

Sustainability Practices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a structured literature review on knowledge management (KM) and KM strategy in environmental sustainability practices of logistics service providers. The paper highlights the nature and scope of existing research and identifies areas for future research. Design/methodology/approach – The study consists of a systematic review of existing research regarding KM in sustainable logistics. In all, 38 refereed research papers formed the basis of analysis. This methodology allows for the minimization of researcher bias and the maximization of reliability and replicability. Findings – The literature review made possible the identification of three basic elements through which building-up appropriate KM approaches and KM strategies in the area of environmental sustainability by third-party logistics service companies will be enhanced: customer relationship management, quality of human resources and the adoption of information and communication technology tools and systems. Research limitations/implications – This study may not have enabled a complete coverage of all articles in the field of KM in the context of environmental sustainability practices of logistics service companies. Yet, it seems reasonable to assume that the review process covered a large share of studies available. The main research implications deriving from the study concern research methods, analysis of factors hampering/supporting the implementation of KM in practices related to environmental sustainability, development of measures to demonstrate the impact of KM on sustainability practices and role of different stakeholders in the implementation of KM in environmental sustainability practices. Originality/value – To the best of the authors ' knowledge, no systematic literature review on this topic has previously been published in academic journals.

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