Category «Research»

Battery-electric trucks, collaboration, and charging infrastructure: insights for the freight transition

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 …

A strategic assessment of first-mile post-consumer textile collection strategies

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 …

Smart Mobility in Europe: Where Innovation Meets Integration

Europe’s transport transition is accelerating, and research shows that the next wave of innovation will depend less on single technologies and more on how digital, sustainable, and social dimensions of mobility come together. A new Joint Research Centre (JRC) report maps 247 EU-funded research and innovation projects in the field of smart mobility, representing more …

A Systematic Review of Sustainable Ground-Based Last-Mile Delivery of Parcels: Insights from Operations Research

The last mile of parcel delivery – the movement from local depots to consumers – is becoming one of the biggest challenges in urban logistics. With booming e-commerce and fast delivery expectations, this stage is both the most costly and the most polluting part of the supply chain. Last-mile operations can account for more than …

Environmental and operational impact of freight urban delivery: in-store, home, and locker

Urban freight distribution has become one of the toughest sustainability challenges for modern cities. In a new study published in Transportation Research Part D, Jiménez and colleagues analyse how different distribution strategies influence operational efficiency and environmental impact of city logistics. Their goal is clear: to quantify how choices about vehicle deployment, routing, and consolidation …

Cargo Bikes and Parcel Deliveries in Rome: What the Evidence Tells Us

The transition to zero-emission city logistics is not only about switching from diesel vans to electric ones. It’s also about rethinking the very vehicles we use. A recent study published in Future Transportation (2025) by Lucia Colonna, Edoardo Marcucci, Valerio Gatta, and Antonio Comi takes a deep look at one of the most promising alternatives …

Smart, Green & Everywhere: The 2025 E-Commerce Revolution

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 Future of Europe’s Postal Sector: What the EU’s Foresight Study Tells Us

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, …

Closing the Loop: Circular Foam Shows the Future of PU Recycling

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 …

Robots and Vans: A Smarter Mix for the Last Mile

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 …