The construction industry is generally characterised by limited implementation of green logistics. With that in mind, this study aimed to examine the nature and extent of green logistics practices in large construction companies in Botswana. Although empirical studies have analysed green supply chain in the construction industry, most of them have not addressed the challenges and prospects of adopting green logistics by construction companies in a developing country like Botswana. Project Managers were interviewed after which a thematic analysis was used to interpret the qualitative results. Thereafter, a comparative analysis was done between the results obtained from the interviews and from extant literature. The findings showed that the adoption of the green logistics strategies was aligned more to economic reasons than environmental ones. The findings further showed that until and unless the construction, technical and administration issues are addressed, the adoption of green logistics will continue to be a challenge for the construction industry in Botswana / Centre for Transport Economics, Logistics and Tourism / M. Com. (Logistics)

Yes / Purpose Pharmaceuticals are a key input into healthcare operations and so their effective management is vital. This issue is of key importance in Thailand and is aligned with the Thailand’s 2nd National Logistics and Supply Chain Research Strategies (2012-2016) focusing on healthcare green logistics. Pharmaceuticals in hospitals account for more than 50% of the total hospital purchasing budget. Moreover, the overuse of medicine was generally found to be prevalent in Thai hospitals despite serious financial concerns. The aim of this study was twofold: Phase (i) to investigate the movement and lifecycle of pharmaceuticals within Thai hospital sites and Phase (ii) identify the GL practices that effectively control/minimize the use of pharmaceuticals. Research Approach Using a case research method six hospitals were examined, to give coverage of the different types/sizes, locations and a range of environmental performance issues. Hospital visits were undertaken during January to July 2014, to obtain data by using a multi-method approach: interviews, documentation reviews and in situ observation. Purposive respondent sampling was undertaken to ensure that data was collected from staff with experience of pharmaceutical management and a bespoke form of content analysis used for the data review before further cross-case analysis. Findings and Originality The result of Phase (i) revealed that pharmaceutical flows appeared to be sophisticated and problematic, caused by issues such as limited budget allocation, ineffective governmental processes, and the over-prescribing of medicine for chronic patients. The findings also identified effective GL practices such as: (i) prescribing medicines for only 1-2 months for some patient conditions/drug types and increasing the frequency of follow-up reviews, (ii) conducting a medicines return programme and (iii) having a clearly defined system of pharmaceutical product review. The outcomes of the study proposed key practices to support a Sustainable Health System at both policy and hospital levels. Within this were: (i) a representation of stakeholder views, (ii) the provision of healthcare education and communication, (iii) addressing self-health management issues and (iv) planned system review and improvement. The design and execution of such a system should be grounded in Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) concept. Research Impacts In the GL research paradigm public healthcare, developing nations, human elements and life-cycle products have received limited attention; this study therefore contributes to the reduction of these gaps. The SEP concept was highly recommended by the United Nations, instead of Sustainable Development, in addressing GL practices in Thai culture to promote sustainable health standards and this underpins the focus and the originality/impact of this study. Practical Impacts This study recommends that staff in Thai hospitals focus on effective pharmaceutical management to contribute to the sustainability of good GL practices (as identified) and to the design and delivery of a Sustainable Health System in Thailand. The study presents guidance and support to do this.

Background  Global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions necessitates a decrease in carbon emission caused by the truck transport industry. To combat the threat of global warming, goals are being set up on a global, national and corporate level. These goals are putting pressure on logistics service providers to decrease the emissions within the truck transport industry. Implementation of green practices is found to be especially challenging within heavy truck transport due to weight and distance of the transport characteristics. In order to achieve emission reductions, logistics service providers are dependent on the alignment with their transport buyers, known as shippers to implement green logistics practices. Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify challenges and enablers for sustainable green transitions within heavy truck transports among shippers and logistics service providers. The study formulates two research question to help achieve the purpose, these questions are focused on challenges and enablers among both shippers and logistics service providers.  Method The study employs an explorative research approach in a multiple case study setting. Three configurations of shipper-LSP relationships are studied and analyzed through thematic analysis, the researchers also conducted a cross-case analysis to compare and identify similarities and differences between the cases in order to draw conclusions.  Conclusion A green transition within the heavy truck transport sector face numerous challenges. The challenges include a high dependency on vehicle development, lacking infrastructure, alignment issues between shippers and logistics service providers and trade off dilemmas. In order to overcome the issues findings, suggest that shippers and LSPs should focus on creating shared goals in order to facilitate implementation of green logistics practices and mitigate the challenges.

The logistics industry causes various harms to the environment. The literature assigns the main responsibility for alleviating such harms to two supply chain actors: shippers (logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs), which motivated studying them in this thesis. Specifically, this thesis explores and identifies how green logistics practices can be facilitated through aligning both actors throughout the different phases of their relationships. Two studies are compiled. The first study is based on five distinct cases -- three shippers and five LSPs, providing the basis for two papers: (i) one that analyses the institutional pressures (regulatory, market, competitive) on shippers to purchase green logistics services, and on LSPs to provide these services, and (ii) one that investigates the two actors’ stances on environmental concerns in the four key logistics purchasing phases (request for proposal, negotiations, contracting, execution), while proposing ways to align their efforts along such phases. The second study covers a single case of a dyadic relationship between a shipper and its LSP, handling enhancing logistics performance (cost efficiency, on-time delivery) in the early stages of their relationship. The findings indicate a general lack of regulatory pressure in driving shippers and LSPs to engage in green logistics, contrasted by a long-term influence of competitive pressure and a prevalent influence of market pressure. It was also found that both actors must put substantial efforts in the beginning of their relationships to reach a mutual business understanding, allowing performance and green enhancements. In the execution, it was found that both partners should regularly communicate performance metrics while modifying working standards, which would also support their green practices. For practitioners, insights are offered to align shippers’ and LSPs’ efforts within their relationships to attain positive performance and green outcomes. / <p>QC 20180223</p>

Problem – Logistics services worldwide are not considered to be environmental sustainable because of their high emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG) as well as its air, soil and water pollution. Since fourth party logistics providers (4PLs) manage the entire supply chain they can reduce their harmful environmental impact on a large scale through green logistics innovation., There are however difficulties for 4PLs to innovate in green logistics.  Purpose – This paper investigates how 4PLs generate and manage green logistics innovation. It also explores what drivers and barriers there are for developing green logistics innovation.  Method – This paper is based on a single case study that uses CIMO logic in the theoretical framework to thoroughly explore and clarify the area of green logistic innovation among 4PLs. Semi structured interviews and a questionnaire were constructed as the main source for gathering empirical evidence.   Results – The case company provided evidence for how 4PLs innovate by being close to their suppliers and customers and finding new opportunities for green logistics innovation. Drivers and barriers are also identified for green logistics innovation.  Conclusions – The study shows how 4PLs can manage and generate innovations as well as create their own playing field by developing competence for new areas of business, enlarging the boundaries for 4PLs to innovate in. The study also shows the importance of considering the goods as a factor in green logistics (particularly reverse logistics).

As práticas verdes vêm constantemente sendo discutidas devido a sua importância para as empresas e para a sociedade. Porém, ainda não se chegou a um consenso sobre todos os seus benefícios, quer sejam ambientais ou econômicos. Cada vez mais os estudos demonstram a capacidade de geração de valor das práticas verdes para as empresas e para a sociedade. Portanto, imagina-se que as mesmas irão influenciar a sua aplicação em segmentos que hoje não têm uma utilização mais efetiva de práticas ambientalmente corretas. O objetivo dessa pesquisa é medir o valor das práticas verdes na percepção dos executivos de organizações manufatureiras e de serviços. O método escolhido foi a pesquisa survey, realizada a partir de um instrumento previamente proposto, contendo 5 variáveis e 25 itens. A pesquisa survey foi realizada em duas etapas: estudo de pré-teste e estudo final. Diferentes técnicas estatísticas foram empregadas para refinar o instrumento, como Análise de Confiabilidade, Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Análise Fatorial Confirmatória. Como resultado desse refinamento emergiu um modelo teórico de pesquisa final contendo 5 variáveis, sendo as dimensões de Estratégia, Custos, Crescimento, Marca e Riscos em 25 itens, onde foi verificado que a variável Marca não se confirmou, pois não teve validade estatística no modelo testado. Também como contribuição para as empresas e sociedade, o modelo teórico de pesquisa final se mostrou adequado para avaliar o valor das práticas verdes para organizações. A principal contribuição da pesquisa para a prática gerencial é o mapeamento da percepção dos executivos a respeito dos benefícios que as práticas verdes proporcionam às suas organizações e um novo modelo representando o valor das práticas verdes. / Green practices are constantly being discussed due to their importance for business and society. However, a consensus on all its benefits has not been reached yet, whether on environmental or economic field. Increasingly, studies have demonstrated the ability to generate value of green practices for companies and society . Therefore, it is thought that they will influence their application in segments that currently have a more effective use of environmentally friendly practices. The objective of this research is to measure the value of green practices in the perception of executives of manufacturing and service organizations. The method chosen was the survey research conducted from a previously proposed instrument, containing 5 variables and 25 items. The survey was conducted in two stages: a pre-test study and a final study. Different statistical techniques were employed to refine the instrument, as Reliability Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. As a result of this refinement a theoretical model for the final survey containing 5 variables has emerged, with the dimensions of Strategy, Cost, Growth, Brand and Risks with 25 items , which found that the variable Brand was not confirmed, it had no statistical validity in the model tested. Also, as a contribution to business and society, the theoretical model for the final survey was adequate to assess the value of green practices for organizations. The main contribution of the research for management practice are mapping the perceptions of executives about the benefits of green practices to their organizations and provide a new model representing the value of green practices.

<p>Many believe that the current application of modern logistics solutions in general and centralisation of distribution systems in particular is damaging from an environmental perspective. The reason for this claim is that when a distribution system is centralised, products need to be shipped over greater distances. This causes an increase in transport work, which in turn is believed to cause an increase in emissions. Further, the decision to centralise distribution can be characterised as a structural decision and earlier research has helped illustrate how such decisions have greater impact on the overall performance of a distribution system than decisions taken at subsequent levels (tactical and operative). The reason for this is that structural decisions help create new opportunities to make other logistical decisions that are beneficial for the performance of a distribution system, as measured in terms of costs and service.</p><p>It is also acknowledged that there is a lack of research illustrating the actual environmental effects of centralisation. This area is the theme of this thesis and the overall purpose is to describe and analyse how centralisation of a distribution system can affect the environment. This purpose has been divided into two research questions, where the first one reads:</p><p>- How does physical centralisation of a distribution system influence the environment?</p><p>This question aims at investigating what effect centralisation has on the amount of emissions that are caused by transport in a distribution system. One of the main advantages with a centralised distribution system is that emergency deliveries are expected to decrease. This type of transport is often performed by airfreight, which is a mode of transport that is regarded to cause the largest amount of environmental stress among the four most commonly used transport modes. The argument that is made is that even though centralisation causes an increase in transport work, this must not necessarily mean that emissions increase.</p><p>As indicated above, earlier studies on structural changes in distribution systems have shown that this type of decision creates new opportunities to make other decisions that are beneficial for the performance of a distribution system, albeit in terms of costs and service. The aim of the second research question is consequently to study this issue, but from an environmental perspective. This question therefore reads:</p><p>- How do structural decisions in logistics create new opportunities to improve on the environmental performance of a distribution system?</p><p>The results of the study show that it is not sufficient to only consider transport work and emergency deliveries when the environmental effect of a centralisation is to be evaluated. It has also been concluded that centralisation creates an opportunity to make improvements within the distribution system that can prove beneficial from an environmental perspective. In summary, three characteristics besides transport work and emergency deliveries were identified as being of importance when considering the environmental effects of a centralisation. These included centralised flow, modal change, and bargaining power.</p><p>This model (<em>see full pdf</em>) does not aim to include all characteristics that can be relevant in an environmental evaluation of a centralisation, but rather those that have been found significant in this study. However, the model helps illustrate that there are many aspects that need to be considered in such an evaluation and that depending on the characteristics of the distribution system at hand the results can vary quite extensively.</p>

“The negative environmental impacts of transportation have gained wide recognition and are at the core of issues of sustainability, especially in urban areas” (Rodrigue, Slack &amp; Comtois, 2001). Many prior researches have been carried out on negative impact of transportation on environment. To minimize and to mitigate environmental concerns, green logistics and green transportation has been introduced in recent time. Logistics companies are becoming more flexible and slowly started moving towards green implementation. Implementation of this new strategy has definite challenges for logistics companies. In order to understand environmental  problems caused by  freight transportation and its challenges associated with green implementation, the aspect of greenness and its challenges were examined especially on the case of Bring Logistics. In this thesis, various modes of transportation and their environmental problems were discussed, city traffic and its consequences, implementation challenges, use of models, etc   The purpose of this research is to understand environmental problems caused by freight transportation and organisational challenges of green implementation in logistics firms.   To fulfill the purpose of this work, a qualitative research method was used with an inductive approach chosen for methodology. Materials were collected both primary and secondary sources and three types of interview were conducted i.e. face-face interview, interview through email and by phone. Eight interviews were conducted involving seven personalities from Bring Logistics Jönköping, Sweden.   In conclusion, a logistical structural changes were implemented as a model in order for the company to be successful in their green implementation. The problems caused by freight transportation were noise, air pollution and climate change. The challenges of green implementation were identified as financial, employees inflexibility, distribution delay, taxation and fuel pricing. / The purpose of this research is to understand environmental problems caused by freight transportation and organisational challenges of green implementation in logistics firms.

Der gesellschaftlich in den Fokus rückende Faktor der Klima- und Energieeffizienz von technischen Produkten eröffnet Unternehmen die Möglichkeit, ihre unternehmerischen Gesellschaftsverantwortung (CSR - Cooperate Social Responsybility) zu definieren und mit konkreten wirtschaftlichen Vorteilen zu verknüpfen. Kerngedanke der CSR ist der Ansatz der Nachhaltigkeit. Den folgenden Generationen soll ein intaktes ökologisches, soziales und ökonomisches Gefüge hinterlassen und dabei langfristig bilanzierbare Gewinne erwirtschaftet werden. Für die technische Intralogistik resultiert daraus die Anforderung, nachhaltige und ressourceneffiziente Systemkomponenten, Systeme und Prozesse („Green Logistics“ oder „grüne Fördertechnik“) bereitzustellen.

<p>“<em>The negative environmental impacts of transportation have gained wide recognition and are at the<strong> </strong>core of issues of sustainability, especially in urban areas</em><em>”</em><em> </em>(Rodrigue, Slack & Comtois, 2001). Many prior researches have been carried out on negative impact of transportation on environment. To minimize and to mitigate environmental concerns, green logistics and green transportation has been introduced in recent time. Logistics companies are becoming more flexible and slowly started moving towards green implementation. Implementation of this new strategy has definite challenges for logistics companies. In order to understand environmental  problems caused by  freight transportation and its challenges associated with green implementation, the aspect of greenness and its challenges were examined especially on the case of Bring Logistics. In this thesis, various modes of transportation and their environmental problems were discussed, city traffic and its consequences, implementation challenges, use of models, etc</p><p> </p><p>The purpose of this research is to understand environmental problems caused by freight transportation and organisational challenges of green implementation in logistics firms.</p><p> </p><p>To fulfill the purpose of this work, a qualitative research method was used with an inductive approach chosen for methodology. Materials were collected both primary and secondary sources and three types of interview were conducted i.e. face-face interview, interview through email and by phone. Eight interviews were conducted involving seven personalities from Bring Logistics Jönköping, Sweden.</p><p> </p><p>In conclusion, a logistical structural changes were implemented as a model in order for the company to be successful in their green implementation. The problems caused by freight transportation were noise, air pollution and climate change. The challenges of green implementation were identified as financial, employees inflexibility, distribution delay, taxation and fuel pricing.</p> / The purpose of this research is to understand environmental problems caused by freight transportation and organisational challenges of green implementation in logistics firms.