Firm-level adoption of circular business models is a crucial part of the transition toward circular economy, but companies that delve into such pursuits often encounter a series of barriers that hamper their success. Although multiple studies on barriers to circular economy have been made, there is a lack of understanding of how barriers are formed under firm-specific characteristics such as sectoral conditions and the type of circular business model adopted. To bridge this gap, we illustrate a barrier framework in a multiple-case study including nine Swedish firms. We derived about 28 barriers within five categories of circularity approaches (design, waste, service, platform, and nature) across three sectors (furniture, electronics, and garment). This research contributes to the circular economy literature by revealing how adhering to certain sectors and circular business approaches significantly changes the way barriers are perceived by firms. The outcomes may support both practitioners and policymakers as they facilitate circular economy transitions.

This paper explores shippers’ (i.e. logistics buyers) and logistics service providers’ (LSPs) perceptions of green concerns under diverse contractual settings during the key phases of the lo-gistics purchasing process: request for proposal, negotiations, contracting and execution. Accordingly, it derives recommendations that could increase the actors’ inter- and intra-organisational alignment on green targets throughout these phases. Empirical data are obtained from eight individual cases of three shippers and five LSPs, representing the buyer/seller roles within logistics arrangements. Contrary to previous literature holding the view that setting more green demands by shippers would guarantee green outcomes, the findings show that shippers’ green demands may hinder green logistics applications due to impediments to LSPs’ asset-sharing strategies. Also, a deadlock situation is revealed in the negotiations phase, where both actors await each other to introduce additional demands/offers - calling for further regulatory intervention to release this deadlock. Moreover, this paper shows how a mismatch of interests in contractual periods between shippers and LSPs can obstruct green investments - signalling that the green criterion is not the decisive factor in shaping shippers’ outsourcing strategies. The findings also stress a lack of follow-up efforts by shippers on green measures that were specified pre-contract, attributing this to contrasting intra-organisational objectives within shippers’ firms. This paper contributes to the green logistics purchasing literature by revealing how different contractual settings play an important role in shaping shippers’/LSPs’ perceptions of green concerns during the logistics purchasing process. Further, it is one of the first studies to provide phase-specific recommendations to increase the actors’ alignment on green targets.

The logistics and transport industry places a heavy load on the environment, causing various harms such as air pollution, global warming and resource depletion. The logistics and supply chain management literature assigns the largest share of responsibility for alleviating such harms to two supply chain actors: shippers (i.e., logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs), which motivated focusing on them in this thesis. Specifically, the purpose of this thesis is to investigate the engagements of shippers and LSPs in different green logistics practices (GLPs) throughout the logistics purchasing process, and to propose improvements for such engagements by their interactions.

Three research questions drive this investigation. The first question handles comparing the drivers (i.e., institutional pressures) for shippers to purchase GLPs and for LSPs to provide them—to reveal how this ‘one-tier network’ is driven as a whole. The second question aims to describe how shippers and LSPs engage in the different GLPs throughout the logistics purchasing process (across its four phases: request for proposal, negotiations, contracting and execution) and why such engagement takes place as it does. The third question aims to propose improvements for shippers’ and LSPs’ engagements in the different GLPs throughout the process—by enacting different degrees of interactions (cooperation vs. collaboration). A methodological triangulation approach is used to answer these questions, based on five papers that are extracted from three studies: a single case (shipper-LSP dyad), a multiple case (3 shippers, 5 LSPs) and a survey (169 shippers, 162 LSPs).

The findings reveal a lack of direct regulatory, market and competitive pressures on shippers to purchase GLPs. These are compared to existing (yet insufficient) regulatory pressure, effective market pressure and emergent competitive pressure on LSPs to provide GLPs. The findings also reveal gaps between the actors’ purchasing-providing engagements in GLPs across the purchasing process, which followed three patterns: steady & wide, steady & narrow and emergent. Distinct GLPs are associated with each pattern, and detailed explanations are presented for these associations based on the characteristics of each GLP . Further, the findings propose paths to improve the actors’ engagements in GLPs across the process, based on the gap pattern for each GLP and the degrees of shipper-LSP interactions required for it (cooperation vs. collaboration).

This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge through systematically incorporating a trilateral actor-, phase- and GLP-specific distinction into the green logistics purchasing discussion. Also, it transcends the descriptive (and general) level of analysis of shippers’ and LSPs’ green engagements during the logistics purchasing process, by: (i) explaining why such engagements occur as they do and (ii) providing recommendations that could actually improve these engagements. Insights are offered to managers at shipper/LSP firms to assist them in modifying their purchasing/marketing strategies throughout the purchasing process with respect to specifically targeted GLPs. Insights are also offered to policymakers to set suitable regulations on both actors to support ‘greening’ logistics networks.

The logistics industry causes various harms to the environment. The literature assigns the main responsibility for alleviating such harms to two supply chain actors: shippers (logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs), which motivated studying them in this thesis. Specifically, this thesis explores and identifies how green logistics practices can be facilitated through aligning both actors throughout the different phases of their relationships. Two studies are compiled. The first study is based on five distinct cases -- three shippers and five LSPs, providing the basis for two papers: (i) one that analyses the institutional pressures (regulatory, market, competitive) on shippers to purchase green logistics services, and on LSPs to provide these services, and (ii) one that investigates the two actors’ stances on environmental concerns in the four key logistics purchasing phases (request for proposal, negotiations, contracting, execution), while proposing ways to align their efforts along such phases. The second study covers a single case of a dyadic relationship between a shipper and its LSP, handling enhancing logistics performance (cost efficiency, on-time delivery) in the early stages of their relationship. The findings indicate a general lack of regulatory pressure in driving shippers and LSPs to engage in green logistics, contrasted by a long-term influence of competitive pressure and a prevalent influence of market pressure. It was also found that both actors must put substantial efforts in the beginning of their relationships to reach a mutual business understanding, allowing performance and green enhancements. In the execution, it was found that both partners should regularly communicate performance metrics while modifying working standards, which would also support their green practices. For practitioners, insights are offered to align shippers’ and LSPs’ efforts within their relationships to attain positive performance and green outcomes.

This paper explores the behaviours of shippers (logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs) towards environmental concerns during three phases of the logistics purchasing process: request for proposal, negotiations, and contracting. Empirical data is obtained from eight individual cases of three shippers and five LSPs within Sweden and Germany. Findings indicate that despite all recent environmental efforts, price and service levels still occupy the highest priorities when selecting LSPs, whereas green criteria are frequently overlooked. This paper offers insights for managers within shipper and LSP firms to harmonise their efforts during the purchasing process to successfully implement green logistics conducts.

This study proposes instructions to initiate relationships correctly between shippers andtheir third-party logistics (TPL) providers within an offshore outsourcing context. Thishas been achieved through studying four factors influencing relationship outcomes (trust,communication, culture, work agreements). The theoretical foundation is merged withthe empirical findings obtained from a case study examining an infant relationshipbetween a Swedish telecom provider, Ericsson, and its TPL in Saudi Arabia, Aramex.The findings recommend exerting extensive efforts from both sides in the build-up stageof TPL relationships in order to avoid potential shortcomings in the execution stage.

This paper proposes guidelines for improving logistics performance in terms of cost efficiency and on-time delivery in shipper–third-party logistics (3PL) provider relationships within an offshore outsourcing context. A conceptual framework is constructed based on a thorough literature review. Empirical data are collected through semi-structured interviews in a single-case study with a dyadic perspective, examining the 3PL relationship between Ericsson of Sweden and Aramex of Saudi Arabia. Accordingly, a revised framework is proposed after illustrating the case and merging the literature with practice. The findings highlight the impact of communication, trust, culture, system compliance, work agreements, and standardisation on cost efficiency and on-time delivery performance. The developed framework illustrates a sequential order for working on these factors to achieve performance improvement. This research is one of the first to propose guidelines for performance improvements within offshore outsourcing of 3PL services. 

Purpose

This study presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of the interdisciplinary literature on drones in last-mile delivery (LMD) to extrapolate pertinent insights from and into the logistics management field.

Design/methodology/approach

Rooting their analytical categories in the LMD literature, the authors performed a deductive, theory refinement SLR on 307 interdisciplinary journal articles published during 2015–2022 to integrate this emergent phenomenon into the field.FindingsThe authors derived the potentials, challenges and solutions of drone deliveries in relation to 12 LMD criteria dispersed across four stakeholder groups: senders, receivers, regulators and societies. Relationships between these criteria were also identified.

Research limitations/implications

This review contributes to logistics management by offering a current, nuanced and multifaceted discussion of drones' potential to improve the LMD process together with the challenges and solutions involved.

Practical implications

The authors provide logistics managers with a holistic roadmap to help them make informed decisions about adopting drones in their delivery systems. Regulators and society members also gain insights into the prospects, requirements and repercussions of drone deliveries.

Originality/value

This is one of the first SLRs on drone applications in LMD from a logistics management perspective.

Purpose

This research examines what motivates professional truck drivers to engage in eco-driving by linking their self-reports with objective driving scores.

Design/methodology/approach

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is illustrated in an embedded, single-case study of a Finnish carrier with 17 of its truck drivers. Data are obtained through in-depth interviews with drivers, their fuel-efficiency scores generated by fleet telematics and a focus group session with the management.

Findings

Discrepancies between drivers’ intentions and eco-driving behaviors are illustrated in a two-by-two matrix that classifies drivers into four categories: ideal eco-drivers, wildcards, wannabes and non-eco-drivers. Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are examined for drivers within each category, revealing that drivers’ perceptions did not always align with the reality of their driving.Research limitations/implicationsThis study strengthens the utility of TPB through data triangulation while also revealing the theory’s inherent limitations in elucidating the underlying causes of its three antecedents and their impact on the variance in driving behaviors.

Practical implications

Managerial insights are offered to fleet managers and eco-driving solution providers to stipulate the right conditions for drivers to enhance fuel-efficiency outcomes of transport fleets.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to give a voice to professional truck drivers about their daily eco-driving practice.

This paper applies institutional theory to analyse the institutional pressures (regulatory, market, competitive) experienced by two actors within supply chains: shippers (i.e. logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs). Both actors are subject to institutional pressures to adopt green supply chain management practices, which could drive shippers to purchase green logistics services from LSPs, and LSPs to provide them. Also, the two actors are influenced by various factors that moderate the level of pressures on them and the responses they undertake. This study examines these pressures and moderators in detail to analyse how they influence green logistics purchasing/providing decisions. Empirical data were obtained from eight individual cases of three shippers and five LSPs. Accordingly, we compare these pressures and moderators based on the actors’ different roles in the supply chain. The findings aim to contribute to advancing the theory through (i) incorporating the roles of the moderating factors and (ii) providing further applications within specific shipper-LSP contexts. Further, this paper aims to assist managers within shipper and LSP organisations by demonstrating how their firm and market characteristics moderate the pressures exerted on them to buy or provide green logistics services, while providing insights on issues influencing their responsiveness.

Purpose: To assess the gaps between the engagements of shippers (logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs) in different green logistics practices along the key phases of the logistics purchasing process: request for proposal, negotiations, contracting and execution.

Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on a large scale survey of shippers and LSPs in Sweden. 331 companies (169 shippers; 162 LSPs) have responded. Data were analysed using independent sample T- tests and paired sample T-tests.

Findings: While our findings conform with previous studies asserting that LSPs engage more extensively in green logistics practices than shippers do, we show that such situation is not uniformly applicable to all practices nor all purchasing phases; three patterns emerged that depict the gapsbetween the actors’ engagements along the process: (i) steady and wide gap, (ii) steady and narrow gap, and (iii) emergent gap – each gap is associated with distinct practices.

Research limitations/implications: Contributing to the green logistics purchasing literature by creating three types of distinctions: (i) between shippers and LSPs, (ii) between different green logistics practices, and (iii) between different logistics purchasing phases. The survey covered actors in Sweden only, future studies could replicate the analysis in other countries.

Practical implications: Insights are offered for managers within shipper/LSP firms to help them in spotting the green practices that are least focused upon by their partners, thus enabling them to modify their purchasing/marketing strategies accordingly.

Social implications: Potentially contributing in reducing the carbon footprint of the logistics industry.

Original/value: The three types of distinctions is a novel outset within the contract logistics and green supply chain management bodies of literature.

The contract logistics literature implicitly suggests that establishing advanced relationships between shippers (logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs) plays a role in facilitating green logistics practices. We systematically test this claim through surveying 335 companies (170 shippers; 165 LSPs) in Sweden. Using factor- and multiple regression analyses, we confirm that implementing green logistics practices is influenced by advanced relationships settings, but not all practices adhere to this. Also, a distinction is made on whether relationship advancement is expressed by the contract design or the degree of integration between the partners; the former better explains the implementation of the practices.

This study aims to identify the main drivers for engaging in sustainability practices in shipper-third-party logistics (3PL) provider relationships, and differentiate between both actors’ perspectives based on their roles within 3PL arrangements. A literature review is conducted to outline the main drivers for each actor among different academic themes. Then, data obtained from an explorative multiple-case study involving two large shippers and two large 3PL providers is illustrated and critically analysed. The drivers are sorted in a matrix that demonstrates nine categories to enable distinguishing both actors’ perceptions accurately. Detecting variations among the actors’ viewpoints on the drivers enables future research to focus on aligning both actors together to realise positive sustainable change.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to measure the gaps between the engagements of shippers (i.e.logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs) in different green logistics practices (GLPs)throughout the key phases of the logistics purchasing process: request for proposal, negotiations, contractingand execution.

Design/methodology/approach – A large-scale survey of shippers and LSPs in Sweden was conducted.Respondents were 331 firms (169 shippers, 162 LSPs). Mean values of the actors’ perceptions were analysedusing independent- and paired sample t-tests.

Findings – While this study supports previous research indicating that LSPs engage more extensively inselling GLPs than shippers do in buying them, it shows that this conclusion does not uniformly apply to allGLPs nor all purchasing phases. Three patterns emerged for the gaps between the actors’ buying-sellingengagements throughout the purchasing process: (1) steady and wide gaps, (2) steady and narrow gaps and(3) emergent gaps. Distinct GLPs were associated with each pattern. It is also shown that the prioritisation ofGLPs is fairly aligned between shippers and LSPs.

Research limitations/implications – This study contributes to the green logistics purchasing literature bysystematically and simultaneously creating three types of distinction, between (1) shippers and LSPs, (2)different GLPs and (3) different logistics purchasing phases. Future studies could replicate the analysis incountries other than Sweden.

Practical implications – Managers of shipper/LSP firms learn tips to spot the GLPs that their partnersprioritise, enabling them to modify their purchasing/marketing strategies accordingly.

Originality/value – The three types of distinction represent a novel approach in the green logisticspurchasing literature.

Purpose: The green logistics literature remains undecided on how collaboration between shippers (i.e. logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs) may facilitate green logistics practices (GLPs). This paper identifies two types of collaboration mechanisms, relation specific and knowledge sharing, to systematically examine their influence on facilitating the different types of GLPs – as seen by shippers versus LSPs. Design/methodology/approach: Survey responses of 169 shippers and 162 LSPs in Sweden were collected and analysed using exploratory- and confirmatory factor analysis, followed by multiple regression analysis. Findings: The findings reveal that neither of the actors consistently favour a certain type of collaboration mechanisms for facilitating all types of GLPs. Although it was found that both actors share the same view on the role of collaboration mechanisms for some GLPs, their views took contrasting forms for others. Research limitations/implications: This study contributes to the green logistics literature by incorporating a trilateral distinction to present collaboration recommendations for GLPs, based on (1) the collaboration mechanism at play, (2) the actor's perspective and (3) the GLP in question. Practical implications: Insights are offered to managers at shipper/LSP firms to apply the right (“fit for purpose”) collaboration mechanisms in their relationships with their logistics partners with respect to the desired GLPs. Originality/value: This is one of the first large-scale studies to systematically reveal in what way collaboration can facilitate the different types of GLPs.

Purpose: Greenhouse gases, such as CO2, are heating up the planet and causing sea levels to rise, and the logistics industry, although vital for contemporary society, it is also a main contributor to the problem. Shippers and logistics service providers (LSPs=) can reduce their emissions by implementing green logistics practices, but these actors also need keep a close eye on costs. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of different green logistics practices on logistics emissions and cost efficiency.

Methodology: The paper is based on survey, with responses from 169 shippers and 162 LSPs in Sweden. Commonly used methods such as correlation-, principal component- and multiple regression analyses have been employed.

Findings: The findings reveal that some types of green logistics practices are strongly associated with reduced emissions, whereas others have less of an impact. Moreover, the results provide no evidence of a trade-off situation, i.e. a situation where green logistics practices would reduce emission while increasing costs.

Research limitations/implications: This paper contributes to the discussion on green logistics practices, and particularly on whether going green is costing more. This paper is based on self-reported emissions and cost-efficiency. It is recommended that future studies look at real emission data that may be available from companies’ annual reports.

Practical and Social implications: The findings provide insights to practitioners and policymakers who are seeking to reduce emissions from logistics. While it may be too optimistic to assume that cost efficiency will improve while becoming greener, there seems to be economic down-side to investing in green practices either.

Originality: Research is thus needed to simultaneously assess the relative impact of different green logistics practices on both emissions and on cost efficiency in logistics. This paper aims to fill this gap