Sustainable development for the logistics industry in the UK

At a time when environmental mitigation is firmly at the centre of the agenda for sustainable development, there is no shortage of research in the field of green logistics. However, little has been done in an attempt to provide integrated solutions for industry, based on a practical assessment of the interrelationships between specific measures. This research investigates the current status of the British logistics industry in terms of its environmental sustainability, by examining 14 sustainable measures that feature strongly in contemporary logistics practice and policies, and determines the interrelationships among them. The primary data was collected using a combined approach involving a postal questionnaire survey and in-depth company interviews. The survey covered both logistics services providers (LSPs) and logistics service users (LSUs), together with the targeted inclusion of more specific actors within the logistics industry.

Through analysis of the sustainable practice and implementation process as seen in the experiences and judgments of key actors in the logistics industry, it is shown that the role of the actors as either logistics providers or users has a certain impact on their perceptions of, and behaviours in, sustainable logistics. Particular characteristics of the company and the sector it belongs to also exert influence, to various extents, on its response to sustainability. The findings also highlight cost-effectiveness as another critical factor determining companies’ sustainability policies. On the basis of the assessment of the measures, in particular their effectiveness and cost efficiency, the thesis concludes with proposals for sustainable packages constructed from different perspectives, along with suggestions for their implementation. This evidence-based research thus informs policy-makers of appropriate and viable sustainable strategies with the right incentives in various circumstances, and the potential to bring about tangible improvements in environmental performance.