Environmental-sustainability Aspect in the Outsourcing of Business-logistics Services

Environmental sustainability is an area of increasing importance for third party logistics (3PL) companies. As the design and implementation of services requires interaction between buyer and 3PL, the 3PLs are in a critical position to support the efforts towards greening operations of different supply chain participants. However the literature in this field reflects a gap between the perspectives of buyers and 3PLs. This chapter attempts to fill this void through an explorative case study analysis on the environmental attitude of 3PLs in order to derive implications for buyers’ behavior. The results indicate that the buyer’s role is critical in different ways in the development of green initiatives among 3PLs. An increased orientation towards longer-term contracts and joint development would likely enhance the level of green initiatives. Indirectly, the buyer has the opportunity to influence its 3PLs through interaction with employees on different levels in the company, including top management.

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Environmental Sustainability in the Follow-Up and Evaluation Stage of Logistics Services Purchasing: Perspectives from UK Shippers and 3PLs

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11092460 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 2460 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Witold Bahr ◽

Edward Sweeney

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Third Party ◽

Future Research ◽

Exploratory Research ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Service Levels ◽

Logistics Services ◽

Evaluation Stage

The purpose of the research described in this paper is to investigate the role played by the green agenda and sustainability in the follow-up and evaluation stage of the purchasing of logistics services. This stage is relatively under-explored in the extant academic literature. However, there is some evidence of a divergence between the perspectives of shippers and forwarders in this area. In this context, therefore, two carefully selected groups of UK-based supply chain management professionals—from shippers (i.e., manufacturers and retailers) and third-party logistics (3PLs)—were investigated using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were based on a data collection guide informed by the authors’ three overall research objectives. Data from the interviews were analysed using a combination of content analysis and grounded analysis. The findings suggest that, while shippers and 3PLs recognise a positive link between cost savings and the development of green initiatives, there is considerable room for improvement in this area in order to reorient the focus of the follow-up and evaluation stage from price and service levels towards sustainability. The authors’ exploratory research leads to the identification of a number of potentially fruitful areas for future research.

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Purchasing Green Transport and Logistics Services

Outsourcing Management for Supply Chain Operations and Logistics Service - Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-2008-7.ch026 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 449-465 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pietro Evangelista ◽

Maria Huge-Brodin ◽

Karin Isaksson ◽

Edward Sweeney

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Third Party ◽

Third Party Logistics ◽

Environmental Attitude ◽

Critical Position ◽

Case Study Analysis ◽

Design And Implementation ◽

Logistics Services ◽

Different Levels

Environmental sustainability is an area of increasing importance for third party logistics (3PL) companies. As the design and implementation of services requires interaction between buyer and 3PL, the 3PLs are in a critical position to support the efforts towards greening operations of different supply chain participants. However the literature in this field reflects a gap between the perspectives of buyers and 3PLs. This chapter attempts to fill this void through an explorative case study analysis on the environmental attitude of 3PLs in order to derive implications for buyers’ behavior. The results indicate that the buyer’s role is critical in different ways in the development of green initiatives among 3PLs. An increased orientation towards longer-term contracts and joint development would likely enhance the level of green initiatives. Indirectly, the buyer has the opportunity to influence its 3PLs through interaction with employees on different levels in the company, including top management.

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Who controls transport emissions and who cares? Investigating the monitoring of environmental sustainability from a logistics service provider’s perspective

The International Journal of Logistics Management ◽

10.1108/ijlm-11-2015-0197 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 798-820 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Fredrik Ralf Nilsson ◽

Henrik Sternberg ◽

Thorsten Klaas-Wissing

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Environmental Policies ◽

Road Transportation ◽

Content Type ◽

The Road ◽

Logistics Service ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Logistics Services ◽

Sustainability Challenges

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the environmental impact of logistics service provider (LSP) activities in the light of customer priorities and the fragmentation of the road haulage industry in Europe. It also explores the extent to which LSPs can actually monitor the environmental impact of logistics activities in the supply chain (SC). Design/methodology/approach The research is based on a narrative literature review, an interview study, a case survey and three in-depth case studies. A framework on sustainability challenges in SCs, derived from the literature, is used to structure and analyse the findings. Findings Despite the ambitious environmental schemes communicated by several LSPs, they show little interest in, and exert little control over, the actual emissions generated from their transport operations. It is clear from the results that any real concern from customers for environmental solutions which negatively influence the cost and time requirements of logistics services is not yet a reality. Research limitations/implications This paper implies that LSP sustainability cannot be investigated in isolation if a company does not manage its proprietary resources (like owning trucks and employing drivers), but rather engage subcontractors. Practical implications Environmental policies among different LSPs appear to be similar as policies, but differ in practice. This variation of practices emphasises the importance of follow-up control by environmentally aware buyers of logistics services. Originality/value This paper represents a novel approach as to how LSP environmental policies should be viewed. It highlights the concrete need for action to achieve the environmental targets of 2020 and 2050 for carbon emissions from road transportation.

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