by Walther Ploos van Amstel
The CIRCULAR FOAM project’s Deliverable 1.5 outlines a conceptual and dialogue-based framework to advance collaboration and transformation in the recycling of high-performance plastics, with a focus on rigid polyurethane (PU) foam. This report synthesizes insights from earlier project tasks, regional workshops, and a consumer survey across Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland to build a common …
Amsterdam is taking significant steps toward becoming a safer and more sustainable city, with a greater focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety. The 2024 traffic safety monitor provides an overview of measures implemented under the city’s road safety plan, including the introduction of 30 km/h zones and policies for pedestrians and cyclists. 30 km/h Becomes …
Between September 2023 and February 2025, the City of Boston tested a new model for sustainable neighborhood deliveries through the Boston Delivers pilot project. This initiative replaced conventional delivery vans with electric cargo bikes to serve local businesses and organizations in Allston, Brighton, and surrounding neighborhoods. The Boston Transportation Department (BTD) partnered with Net Zero …
When discussing urban logistics, the focus often lies on parcel deliveries to consumers—a trend that the rise of e-commerce has amplified. Yet, cities are also home to industrial zones with manufacturers and producers who have very different logistics needs. These areas depend on the timely delivery of bulky, perishable, or production-critical goods. Despite their importance, …
The postal market in the Netherlands is under serious pressure. Declining mail volumes, rising costs, labor shortages, and digitization are making it increasingly challenging to fulfill the universal service obligation (USO)—the statutory requirement to deliver mail nationwide—reliably and affordably. PostNL, which is responsible for this task, has for some time failed to meet the 95% next-day delivery …
In the age of smart urban mobility and AI-driven ride-hailing platforms, it’s easy to assume that more technology means better performance. But new research reveals a surprising insight: in some urban environments, old-fashioned, low-tech transport modes can outperform their high-tech counterparts—simply because they’re easier to coordinate. At the heart of this finding is a fresh …
In city logistics, delivery vehicles may get all the attention, but it’s what happens after the driver parks that truly defines last-mile success. A new empirical study in Seattle (USA) reveals the hidden but vital role of walking in delivery operations. It turns out that drivers spend most of their time outside the vehicle, navigating …
According to the latest EAFO data, pure-electric drive continued to widen its lead in April 2025. In the passenger-car segment (M1), battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 15.27% of new registrations, nearly double the 8.69% share held by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles chipped in 2.92%, while compressed natural gas (CNG) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) …
As e-retailers increasingly compete by offering consumer-centric services such as expedited deliveries, urban freight systems face mounting pressure to adopt sustainable last-mile distribution practices. While existing research has explored the performance of various distribution strategies under static planning and network design scenarios, their effectiveness under the dynamic and stochastic conditions characteristic of modern e-commerce remains …
Cycle logistics has seen impressive growth in recent years, emerging as a vital part of urban freight systems across Europe. Unlike app-based platform couriers, cycle logistics operators have evolved organically from a wide range of origins — from major logistics providers to cooperatives and even public institutions. This diversity in origins reflects the sector’s adaptability, …