{"title":"Decarbonizing the last mile. Innovations from an online retailers’ perspective","authors":"Iria González-Romero , Ángel Ortiz-Bas , J.Carlos Prado-Prado","doi":"10.1016/j.trd.2025.104752","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>E-commerce is struggling to tackle its carbonization impact. Despite extensive research on solutions for decarbonizing the last mile, real-world implementation remains limited. In this context, through a qualitative research design, this research aims to identify innovations that could positively impact this decarbonization. First, a literature review and twenty semi-structured interviews with e-retailers identify innovations that are already being implemented. Thus, 11 decarbonizing innovations are identified, providing guidance through its detailed description. Finally, a methodology to quantify their decarbonization impact based on CO<sub>2</sub> emissions is implemented in a case study. Overall, for a specific case study, the positive impact all innovations have on decarbonizing the last mile is highlighted. Thus, this research bridges the gap between theory and practice by identifying actionable innovations and quantifying their impacts in a case study, helping e-retailers decarbonize their last mile.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23277,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part D-transport and Environment","volume":"143 ","pages":"Article 104752"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Transportation Research Part D-transport and Environment","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920925001622","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
E-commerce is struggling to tackle its carbonization impact. Despite extensive research on solutions for decarbonizing the last mile, real-world implementation remains limited. In this context, through a qualitative research design, this research aims to identify innovations that could positively impact this decarbonization. First, a literature review and twenty semi-structured interviews with e-retailers identify innovations that are already being implemented. Thus, 11 decarbonizing innovations are identified, providing guidance through its detailed description. Finally, a methodology to quantify their decarbonization impact based on CO2 emissions is implemented in a case study. Overall, for a specific case study, the positive impact all innovations have on decarbonizing the last mile is highlighted. Thus, this research bridges the gap between theory and practice by identifying actionable innovations and quantifying their impacts in a case study, helping e-retailers decarbonize their last mile.
期刊介绍:
Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment focuses on original research exploring the environmental impacts of transportation, policy responses to these impacts, and their implications for transportation system design, planning, and management. The journal comprehensively covers the interaction between transportation and the environment, ranging from local effects on specific geographical areas to global implications such as natural resource depletion and atmospheric pollution.
We welcome research papers across all transportation modes, including maritime, air, and land transportation, assessing their environmental impacts broadly. Papers addressing both mobile aspects and transportation infrastructure are considered. The journal prioritizes empirical findings and policy responses of regulatory, planning, technical, or fiscal nature. Articles are policy-driven, accessible, and applicable to readers from diverse disciplines, emphasizing relevance and practicality. We encourage interdisciplinary submissions and welcome contributions from economically developing and advanced countries alike, reflecting our international orientation.