by Walther Ploos van Amstel
On 30 January 2026, through the distribution market sector of Transport en Logistiek Nederland, we made an inspiring company visit to Lidl Netherlands in Almere. The visit focused on their sustainability vision and the layout of their charging yards. Lidl demonstrated how they have structurally integrated electric transport into their logistics operations and how charging …
We all know the reflex: the washing machine stutters, the phone screen cracks, or the e-bike loses its punch — and we immediately start browsing for a replacement. But a 2026 study by TNO and the Dutch Association for Circular Economy (NVCE) shows this instinct is costing consumers real money. Choosing repair or refurbishment keeps …
A new academic study from TU Delft takes a deep dive into one of Amsterdam’s most pressing urban challenges: how to keep goods flowing into the city without choking its historic streets and aging infrastructure. The paper, by Bijvoet, Karademir, and Atasoy (2026), models a multimodal two-echelon distribution system for Amsterdam’s HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, …
A new study from the ERROLI project sheds light on the working conditions of urban delivery riders in Paris and Lyon — one of the first large-scale investigations into this rapidly growing yet poorly understood sector. Researchers surveyed 1,005 riders recruited directly at 26 working locations across both cities. The typical rider is a young …
Amsterdam and Berlin are among the European frontrunners in efficient urban logistics. This is shown by the European Freight Efficiency Index from Geotab, which is based on connected-vehicle data from seven European capital cities. Amsterdam scores 59 out of 100 points, finishing just behind Berlin (61). London (29) and Madrid (25) bring up the rear. …
Cities are under pressure to clean up their freight emissions. Goods vehicles make up only 10% of urban traffic but account for a quarter of city CO₂ emissions. This is a disproportionate impact that policymakers can no longer ignore. One popular answer is the urban logistics facility: a hub positioned within the city that consolidates …
Every day, hundreds of sofas, armchairs, and chairs are left out on the streets of Dutch cities. Sometimes properly reported to the municipality, often just abandoned on the pavement. The end of a product that has served its purpose for an average of seven to seventeen years, and that, in most cases, goes straight to …
A major peer-reviewed study published this week in Nature Cities maps last-mile delivery emissions across 365 Chinese cities using data from 14 billion orders and 1.9 million couriers. The research finds that order growth does not translate proportionally into emissions: an 83.5% increase in orders from 2023 to 2024 resulted in only a 31.3% rise …
Failed deliveries are one of the most stubborn headaches in urban logistics. The courier arrives, nobody’s home, and the whole costly cycle begins again: a second attempt, extra fuel, more emissions, and a frustrated customer. A new study published in Research in Transportation Economics (Escudero-Santana et al., 2026) takes a fresh angle on this problem: …
Last-mile delivery is a critical component of the logistics and supply chain industry, especially in densely populated urban areas like Mumbai. This study aims to analyze the key challenges affecting last-mile delivery efficiency and evaluate the role of technology and operational strategies in improving performance. Recent research was based on primary data collected through a structured survey of delivery personnel and consumers in Mumbai. Key factors such …