Sustainable urban logistics
Green logistics
green logistics (or green logistics, in English) is a current within logistics that seeks to measure and minimize the environmental impact of logistics activities, including the transportation, storage, packaging and distribution of goods and services. This approach aims to achieve a balance between economic efficiency and environmental sustainability, promoting practices that reduce the carbon footprint, optimize resources and promote corporate environmental responsibility.[1][2].
Origin and evolution
The concept of green logistics emerged in the mid-1980s, when the environmental effects of logistics activities began to gain relevance. Since then, interdisciplinary and holistic approaches have been developed that integrate advanced technology, corporate responsibility and process optimization to reduce negative effects on the environment.[3].
Components and action levels
Green logistics measures are implemented at different levels:
• - Product and market: ecological design of the product and its packaging.
• - Structure: planning of sustainable logistics networks.
• - Processes: optimization of routes and loads.
• - Technology: use of electric or hybrid vehicles, alternative fuels such as green ammonia, and IT logistics control technologies.
• - Actors: collaboration between companies, employees, suppliers and customers aware of the environmental impact.[4].
Benefits
Among the most notable benefits of applying green logistics strategies are:
• - Reduction of polluting emissions.
• - Improvement of corporate reputation.
• - Medium-term energy and operating cost savings.
• - Compliance with environmental regulations.
• - Greater competitiveness in markets that value sustainability.[5][6].