scholarly journals Last-Mile Shared Delivery: A Discrete Sequential Packing Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 1466-1497
Author(s):  
Junyu Cao ◽  
Mariana Olvera-Cravioto ◽  
Zuo-Jun (Max) Shen
Keyword(s):  
Packing Problem ◽  
Distribution Center ◽  
Technical Approach ◽  
Expected Number ◽  
Ride Sharing ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Last Mile Delivery ◽  
Optimal Reward ◽  
Random Times ◽  
Theoretical Results

We propose a model for optimizing the last-mile delivery of n packages from a distribution center to their final recipients, using a strategy that combines the use of ride-sharing platforms (e.g., Uber or Lyft) with traditional in-house van delivery systems. The main objective is to compute the optimal reward offered to private drivers for each of the n packages such that the total expected cost of delivering all packages is minimized. Our technical approach is based on the formulation of a discrete sequential packing problem, in which bundles of packages are picked up from the warehouse at random times during the interval [Formula: see text]. Our theoretical results include both exact and asymptotic (as [Formula: see text]) expressions for the expected number of packages that are picked up by time T. They are closely related to the classical Rényi’s parking/packing problem. Our proposed framework is scalable with the number of packages.

Hybrid last mile delivery fleets with crowdsourcing: A systems view of managing the cost‐service trade‐off

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent E. Castillo ◽  
John E. Bell ◽  
Diane A. Mollenkopf ◽  
Theodore P. Stank
Keyword(s):  
Service Trade ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Last Mile Delivery ◽  
Systems View

scholarly journals Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Last-Mile Delivery Considering Backhauls

IEEE Access ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Ahram Jeon ◽  
Joohang Kang ◽  
Byungil Choi ◽  
Nakyung Kim ◽  
Joonyup Eun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Last Mile Delivery

scholarly journals The Ecological Footprint of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines: Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7425
Author(s):  
Peter Kurzweil ◽  
Alfred Müller ◽  
Steffen Wahler
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Vaccine Dose ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Cooling Technology ◽  
Chain Organization ◽  
Last Mile Delivery

Compared to the medical, economic and social implications of COVID-19 vaccinations, little attention has been paid to the ecological balance to date. This study is an attempt to estimate the environmental impact of two mRNA vaccines in terms of CO2 equivalents with respect to their different freezing strategies and supply chain organization. Although it is impossible to accurately calculate the actual environmental impact of the new biochemical synthesis technology, it becomes apparent that transport accounts for up to 99% of the total carbon footprint. The emissions for air freight, road transportation and last-mile delivery are nearly as 19 times the emissions generated from ultra-deep freeze technologies, the production of dry ice, glass and medical polymers for packaging. The carbon footprint of a single mRNA vaccine dose injected into a patient is about 0.01 to 0.2 kg CO2 equivalents, depending on the cooling technology and the logistic routes to the vaccination sites in Germany.

Last-mile logistics in the sharing economy: sustainability paradoxes

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Btissam Moncef ◽  
Marlène Monnet Dupuy
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Food Delivery ◽  
Logistics Management ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Last Mile Delivery

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore sustainability paradoxes in sharing economy initiatives by focusing on logistics management in last-mile logistics.Design/methodology/approachIn this exploratory study, a total of 10 case studies were conducted in three categories of companies: anti-waste platforms, food delivery platforms and bicycle delivery companies. Twenty-seven face-to-face interviews with founders and/or managers and contractors (couriers, logistics service providers or volunteers) were the primary source of data collection. The heterogeneity of the sample enabled the authors to build an understanding of sustainability paradoxes in the logistics of sharing economy initiatives.FindingsThe findings indicate how logistics management impacts the sustainability of sharing economy initiatives in last-mile delivery. The authors identify seven paradoxical tensions (five of them social) generated by the contradictions between the organizations' promised environmental and social values and the impacts of their operations.Research limitations/implicationsThis exploratory research is based on a qualitative study of 10 cases and 27 interviews from heterogeneous samples; further empirical research is needed to ensure generalization.Practical implicationsThe paper increases the understanding of environmental and social paradoxical tensions and awareness of logistics challenges.Social implicationsThe paper helps identify ways to reconcile promised values and impacts generated by sharing economy initiatives while managing last-mile delivery.Originality/valueThe results enrich the literature about the paradoxes in sharing economy initiatives by providing illustrations in last-mile logistics and exposing the underlying challenges for sharing economy logistics actors.

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