With climate change and global warming being indisputable the world, its people, economy and companies face severe consequences. These can be literally natural disasters, ambitious climate protection goals and tightened environmental legislation for companies. As freight transport is responsible for a significant proportion of man made CO2 emissions it needs to contribute heavily to accomplishing Kyoto Protocol CO2 reduction targets. Besides complying with legislation focusing on sustainable development of logistics can yield further advantages such as cost savings and enhanced reputation.
This dissertation is about developing a green logistics strategy for Strubbe as a logistics service provider mainly concerned with freight transport. In terms of freight transport considering green strategies means focusing on managing carbon emissions. As managing without measuring is not possible the first step was calculating Strubbe´s carbon footprint. The energy-based calculation approach revealed TTW emissions of 1,120.39 tonnes CO2e for 2012, equivalent to 0.057 kg CO2e per tkm. Even though this intensity figure is lower than default values it could still be reduced by applying carbon emission reduction measures. These measures needed to be applicable to a freight transport concerned small logistics service provider like Strubbe. The review of potential measures yielded five practically applicable options: use of biodiesel (36.27%), reduction of maximum speed to 80 km/h (2.33%), vertical collaboration (1.88%), aerodynamic profiling (1.7%) and reduction of engine idling (0.41%). Their resprective percentage carbon abatement potentials are displayed in brackets. Further analysis revealed following changes in operating cost, in other words abatement costs: use of biodiesel (+19.24%), reduction of maximum speed to 80 km/h (+3.33%), vertical collaboration (-1.88%), aerodynamic profiling (+0.05%), reduction of engine idling (-0.41%).
Due to the highly competitive freight transport market it is recommended that the affected companies strive for weak sustainable development of their operations. Any increase of operating cost should be avoided. Thus only carbon reduction measures which decrease operating cost should be applied. Strubbe should implement all of the reviewed measures except the use of biodiesel.
Table of Contents
1 CHAPTER: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Research aim and objectives
1.2 Scope of dissertation
1.3 Outline of dissertation
2 CHAPTER: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Supply chain management, logistics and freight transport
2.3 Externalities from freight transport
2.4 Corporate strategy alignment
2.5 Carbon management
2.5.1 Defining organisational boundaries
2.5.2 Defining operational boundaries
2.5.3 Carbon measuring and calculation approach and data collection
2.5.4 Choice of conversion factors and calculation of footprint
2.5.5 Carbon reduction measures
2.5.6 Evaluation of measures
2.6 Summary
3 CHAPTER: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Statement of values
3.3 Research philosophy
3.4 Research type
3.5 Research approach
3.6 Research strategy
3.7 Data collection
3.8 Data analysis
3.9 Research quality
3.10 Summary
4 CHAPTER: CASE STUDY
4.1 Introduction and case study description
4.2 SMEs and the German road freight market
4.3 Outline of the company and its activities
4.4 Carbon footprinting
4.4.1 Definition of boundaries
4.4.2 Calculation approach
4.4.3 Conversion factors
4.4.4 Calculation and results
4.5 Carbon reduction measures
4.5.1 Improving vehicle utilisation
4.5.2 Optimising the routing of vehicles
4.5.3 Improving fuel efficiency
4.5.4 Alternative fuels
4.6 Evaluation of carbon reduction measures
4.7 Conclusion
5 CHAPTER: CONCLUSION and RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Recommendation to Gustav Strubbe GmbH and similar companies
5.3 Further research
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary research objective is to develop a customized, practically applicable, green logistics strategy for the small road haulage company Gustav Strubbe GmbH. The study addresses the central question of how to reduce the carbon footprint of transport operations for a company that must balance environmental sustainability with the economic constraints of a highly competitive market.
- Calculation of the company's current carbon footprint (Scope 1 and 2 emissions).
- Evaluation of potential carbon reduction measures specifically suited for small logistics service providers.
- Assessment of the environmental and economic impact of measures like biodiesel, speed reduction, and vehicle routing.
- Alignment of green initiatives with corporate and logistics strategies.
- Determination of the feasibility of "weak sustainability" in an SME road freight context.
Excerpt from the Book
Improving vehicle utilisation:
The amount of freight transport activity, particularly vehicle kms, needed for a certain amount of goods can be reduced by improving vehicle utilisation (McKinnon, 2000). As the standard vehicle utilisation measure of “tkm per vehicle per annum” (McKinnon and Edwards, 2012, p. 206) is a productivity figure, it is not suitable as a measure of the actual level of capacity utilisation. Therefore either weight- or volume related loading factors should be used because depending on their density goods either ´weigh-out´ or ´cube-out´ (McKinnon and Edwards, 2012). A crucial aspect of this measure is the understanding that vehicle utilisation depends on two separate factors: vehicle loading factors and empty running (McKinnon, 2007). As a high loading factor is rather a minor issue in bulk road freight, special emphasis should be placed on empty running. This factor is especially important because incompatibility of vehicles and equipment as well as transport sector specific requirements strongly boosts empty running within bulk freight transport operations (McKinnon and Edwards, 2012).
Empty running is the proportion of km without load to total vehicle km. According to Eurostat (2007) the average overall empty running in Germany was 22% of total lorry km in 2005. For ´hire and reward´ operations this proportion is down to 19%. McKinnon (2007) identifies “five sets of constraints: regulatory, market-related, inter functional, infrastructural and equipment-related” (p. 33) affecting vehicle utilisation. In order to improve utilisation McKinnon (2007) suggests several measures including use of longer and heavier vehicles, improved packaging and handling equipment and inter-company collaboration. Because of its broad scope collaboration appears particularly promising. In addition to inter-company collaboration, collaboration between different business functions within a company should be oriented to developing the highest possible economic and environmental efficiency (McKinnon, 2007).
Summary of Chapters
1 CHAPTER: INTRODUCTION: Introduces the urgency of climate change in logistics and establishes the research objectives for developing a green strategy at Gustav Strubbe GmbH.
2 CHAPTER: LITERATURE REVIEW: Reviews academic foundations, green logistics frameworks, and carbon management standards like ISO 14064 and CEN EN 16258.
3 CHAPTER: METHODOLOGY: Details the research philosophy (critical realism), the use of action research, and the combined deductive/inductive approach for data collection.
4 CHAPTER: CASE STUDY: Applies theoretical concepts to Gustav Strubbe GmbH, including carbon footprint calculation and evaluation of specific reduction measures.
5 CHAPTER: CONCLUSION and RECOMMENDATION: Summarizes findings and provides strategic recommendations for Gustav Strubbe GmbH based on the cost-benefit analysis of reviewed measures.
Keywords
Green Logistics, Carbon Footprint, Freight Transport, SME, Decarbonisation, Road Haulage, Supply Chain Management, Emission Calculation, Fuel Efficiency, Abatement Cost Curve, Sustainability, Dual-fuel, Vehicle Utilisation, Corporate Strategy, Alternative Fuels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation focuses on developing a practical green logistics strategy for the small-sized German road haulage company, Gustav Strubbe GmbH, to reduce its carbon footprint.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include carbon management, supply chain efficiency, regulatory compliance, the role of SMEs in the freight market, and the economic viability of carbon reduction initiatives.
What is the ultimate goal of the research?
The goal is to provide the company with a customized strategy that reduces carbon emissions without compromising the economic survival of the business in a highly competitive sector.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The research uses a descriptive case study approach combined with action research, incorporating quantitative carbon footprinting and qualitative management interviews.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers literature review, methodological approach, the specific case study of Gustav Strubbe GmbH, calculation of the current carbon footprint, and a cost-benefit evaluation of various reduction measures.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The most important keywords include Green Logistics, Carbon Footprint, Freight Transport, SME, Decarbonisation, and Emission Calculation.
Why is "weak sustainability" recommended for this company?
Due to severe competition and low profit margins in the road freight sector, the author recommends weak sustainability, which prioritizes economic survival while trading off environmental goals that would significantly increase operating costs.
What role does the European Standard CEN EN 16258 play?
It serves as the technical basis for the carbon footprinting calculation for the company, as it is the most relevant standard for European transport operations.
Is biodiesel a recommended measure for the company?
No, because despite its high carbon abatement potential, it significantly increases operating costs and faces supply/taxation challenges, making it currently unsuitable for the company.
What is the most recommended measure?
Enhanced collaboration with customers is highly recommended as it offers significant carbon abatement potential while simultaneously reducing operating costs.
- Citation du texte
- Ralph Strubbe (Auteur), 2013, A green logistics strategy for a logistics service provider, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/340339
