by Walther Ploos van Amstel
Major food and grocery delivery platforms today launched an industry-led alliance to accelerate the shift to zero-emission food and grocery deliveries. The UN Deliver-E Coalition aims to switch to zero-emission two- and three-wheeler vehicles globally. The founding Members of the Deliver-E Coalition – Delivery Hero, DoorDash, iFood, Mr D, Swiggy, Uber, Wolt, and Zomato — are …
The 2025 E-Commerce Trends Report: Business Edition by DHL reveals how digital transformation, sustainability, and AI are redefining global e-commerce. Drawing insights from 4,050 businesses across 19 countries, the study identifies five key developments shaping the sector: technological acceleration, omnichannel selling, sustainable operations, new payment and subscription models, and evolving B2B expectations. Technology and AIArtificial …
The European Commission’s Prospective Study on the Future of the Postal Sector (2024) provides a detailed picture of how Europe’s delivery ecosystem is expected to evolve by 2040. Conducted by RPA Europe and RAND Europe, the study supports the preparation of a new EU Delivery Act, planned for 2026, and offers insight into how digitalisation, …
As part of the EU single market strategy adopted in May 2025, a new EU Delivery Act is proposed to replace the Postal Services Directive and the Cross-border Parcels Regulation in Q4 2026. Reform of EU rules on postal services will focus on delivery as a service, ensuring that people and businesses can receive deliveries …
Can city deliveries be made quietly, emission-free, and stress-free? Hamburg is testing exactly that. As part of the InnoWaTr project’s Freight Flow Coalition No. 3, the city launched its first pilot runs using fully electric boats on the Alster lake and canals. The pilot was carried out by Logistics Initiative Hamburg and TOP Mehrwert-Logistik, in …
ICCT published an interesting blog about Zero-emission zones: The Netherlands’ path to cleaner urban freight. The blog presents lessons for other countries. But are these lessons true? What is really going on in the Netherlands? Are zero-emissions zones a no-regret measure for cities worldwide? As of January 1, 2025, sixteen Dutch municipalities have implemented zero-emission …
Rigid polyurethane (PU) foams are everywhere: they keep our homes warm and our refrigerators cool. Yet, until now, their end-of-life options have been limited to landfill or incineration — wasting valuable raw materials and contributing to climate burdens. The European research project CIRCULAR FOAM – Systemic Expansion of Territorial Circular Ecosystems for End-of-Life Foam set …
Autonomous delivery robots are no longer science fiction. They’re becoming real players in last-mile logistics. Their appeal is clear: robots can cut costs, lower emissions, ease congestion, and even reach narrow streets where vans struggle. But robots come with limits too. Their range, carrying capacity, and need for regular maintenance mean they can’t replace vans …
Recent research has underscored the central role of local authorities in shaping sustainable urban logistics. Although European directives have long encouraged greener freight solutions, French planning documents have historically paid limited attention to logistics. A new study, analyzing 121 local authorities, provides fresh insights into how urban logistics is being gradually integrated into local public …
Seattle is preparing to launch the nation’s first connected network of community food micro-pantries, equipped with smart sensors to track supply and demand. The pilot, led by the Urban Freight Lab (UFL) at the University of Washington, aims to predict food needs, reduce waste, and ensure donations reach those who need them most. The initiative …