by Walther Ploos van Amstel
A new government-commissioned study examines whether the Netherlands could introduce mandatory return charges for online clothing and the environmental impact that would have. While the concept seems simple, the findings are far more complex and highly relevant for e-commerce leaders. Returns: a structural and costly habit Free returns have become the norm: 71% of Dutch …
The European truck industry stands at a critical turning point. Transitioning to zero-emission (ZE) trucks is no longer just a climate ambition. It has become central to preserving the sector’s long-term competitiveness. McKinsey identifies three interlinked pillars that must advance together: a competitive and broad ZE-truck offering, a robust charging and refueling infrastructure, and enabling …
The electrification of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) is progressing far too slowly to meet Europe’s climate targets. That’s not just a policy issue—it’s something cities experience on the ground every day. Despite growing manufacturer investment and an expanding range of electric models, real-world adoption is lagging. ACEA’s new position paper makes it clear: at the …
In Poland, parcel lockers are as standard as ATMs. Some 25,000 units cover the country; at supermarkets, between apartment blocks, on busy street corners. Enter a code, the door clicks open, done. InPost, the yellow icon of Polish e-commerce, turned lockers into national infrastructure. CEO Rafal Brzoska already believed in 2009 that home delivery was …
Battery-electric trucks (BETs) are widely seen as a core pathway to decarbonising heavy-duty road freight, but large-scale adoption remains difficult. A recent study examines how collaborative logistics, smart routing, and targeted policies can accelerate BET deployment for trucks used in middle-mile and long-haul operations—while managing costs and operational constraints. The research combines a new electric …
London is showing that safer trucks save lives. New data released during Road Safety Week confirms that the city’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS) for heavy goods vehicles is driving a dramatic improvement in safety for vulnerable road users. Since DVS was introduced in 2019, deaths and serious injuries involving pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists in collisions …
The debate surrounding the Total Cost of Ownership of electric trucks typically revolves around one question: when will electric driving be as cost-effective as diesel? But that’s not the real contest. The actual competitive battle is about energy parity: who drives on cheap, reliable electricity and who doesn’t. That’s where a divide is emerging that …
E-commerce and new delivery trends are reshaping how our streets are used — and how they feel. Delivery vans, cargo bikes, and couriers now compete for curb space that was once reserved for pedestrians, cyclists, and social life. The rise of last-mile logistics is no longer just a transport or technical challenge; it’s an urban …
The electrification of logistics fleets is entering a new phase. DHL Group’s Post & Parcel Germany division, together with its e-vehicle subsidiary StreetScooter and engineering partner IAV, has completed the rollout of an intelligent charging and load management system for 35,000 electric vehicles across Germany. What started as a pilot with 600 vehicles has now …
The linear “take-make-waste” model of the textile sector is increasingly recognised as unsustainable. In response, a new paper addresses the first-mile logistics of post-consumer textile (PCT) collection as a critical yet under-studied part of closing the loop. Their work focuses on the strategic assessment of collection value chains: how textiles, once discarded by consumers, are …