1、Photo by Stanislav Matuszny Kearney,PragueIn a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?Almost a decade on from the Paris Agreement of 2015,in which world leaders pledged to prevent global temperatures rising by more than 1.5C,not much progress has been achi

2、eved.Despite sustainability gaining significant momentum and becoming a top-of-mind concern for governments,businesses,and consumers,the results of a global stocktake in 2023 revealed that the world is significantly off track in meeting the goals of the agreement,and that urgent action is needed to

3、combat the growing threats posed by climate change.Notable challenges to sustainability efforts in recent years include the economic uncertainty and rising costs that have come in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts between Russia and Ukraine,and Israel and Palestine.With global health,s

4、ecurity,and economic stability taking center stage,this has put sustainability somewhat on the back foot.However,as warnings about climate change grow starker and its effects become more serious,making sustainable decisions is no longer something that can be treated as an option.Its a global imperat

5、iveand a matter of survival in the Global South today,and potentially for the whole planet in the future.Industry has a huge role to play,and for some sectors,its going to be a significantly bigger job than for others.In this article,we will zoom in on transport to explore the impact of a relatively

6、 new phenomenon:the dizzying rise of the CEP industry,which is calling for actions by different stakeholders to make it more sustainable.The courier,express,and parcel(CEP)industry has become a key component of modern life.But last-mile speed and convenience are bad news for carbon emissions targets

7、.How can the CEP segment play its part in protecting the planet and stopping global warming?The answers lie not only with operators,but with dedicated action from those who use their services,and governing authorities.As warnings about climate change grow starker and its effects become more serious,

8、making sustainable decisions is no longer an option.1In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?Actions to be taken by stakeholders to make CEP greenerWhile the CEP service providers might have the most obvious opportunities to greenify the industry,we mu

9、st understand the interplay with other parties,too.The government(here we use the term representing regulatory bodies in general)is in a position to regulate emissions in the CEP industry as well as support and facilitate sustainable practices.Consumers hold the collective power to rethink establish

10、ed behaviors and do their part in reducing emissions of their e-commerce orders.As a matter of introduction,the following overview provides examples of potential actions of all parties(see figure 1).Notes:CEP is courier,express,and parcel.OOH is out of home delivery(e.g.,when parcel is delivered to

11、parcel locker).Source:Kearney analysisFigure 1Decarbonizing the CEP industry will require concerted and collaborative efort among government,industry,retailers,and end consumersGovernment1.Strengthen regulatory framework 2.Support electrification of fleets and e-fuels3.Expand rail network4.Apply cli

12、mate charges5.Foster OOH delivery locationsCEP players6.Improve energy efficiency in buildings7.Improve asset and vehicle utilization8.Introduce alternative fuels and engines9.Use cargo bikes and OOH deliveries10.Charge for doorstep deliveriesShippers/retailers11.Reduce order frequency 12.Promote ci

13、rcularity13.Pay more for green delivery options14.Prioritize and promote OOH deliveryRecipients/consumers15.Place orders more consciously 16.Avoid returns where possible17.Accept longer delivery times18.Choose OOH delivery options2In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery indust

14、ry really go green?Traffic,transport,and e-commerce remain emissions big hittersFigure 2The transportation sector plays a significant role in Germanys greenhouse gas emissionsShare of greenhouse gas emissions per sector of Germanys Federal Climate Protection Law 2023Development of greenhouse gas emi

15、ssions per sector of Germanys Federal Climate Protection Law 19902023 Note:without international transportation,preliminary data.Sources:Federal Environment Agency 2024;Kearney analysisEnergy30%Agriculture9%Waste and others1%EnergyIndustryBuildingsTransportationAgricultureWaste and othersIndustry23%

16、Buildings15%Transportation22%57%44%51%11%27%86%Dependent on energy and historically run on emissions-heavy fossil fuels,the transport industry has always been called out as one of the dominant sources of greenhouse gas emissions.But with electrification starting to take hold,where does it stand toda

17、y?If we take Germany as an example,transport was still responsible for more than a fifth(22 percent)of total emissions in 2023.But thats not all.Going back in time,we can see that this share has actually grown by 9 percentage points since 1990,due to ever-increasing transportation and other sectors

18、managing to make faster progress on reducing their environmental impact(see figure 2).3In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?This explains why transportation continues to be such a prominent target sector in national and international climate efforts

19、.However,one area within transportationCEPshould have an elevated position on countries mitigation plans.Born out of the demand for a quicker,more convenient way to transport both industrial and consumer goods,it saw unprecedented growth during the past decade including the years of the pandemic whe

20、n organizations raced to move critical goods and components via parcels and both B2B and B2C e-commerce gained momentum.Whats more,it looks set to advance even further thanks to consumers continuing appetite for shopping online.Figures from IMARC Group,a market research and analysis firm,suggest tha

21、t,having reached a value of$92 billion in 2023,the CEP market in Europe will be worth$116 billion by 2032,a compound annual growth rate(CAGR)of 2.5 percent.The environmental impact of the ever-increasing CEP sector is negative.According to a report from Last Mile Experts,in 2023 e-commerce was respo

22、nsible for more than 70 percent of European CEP volumes,driving a significant increase in parcel-related vehicles on the streetsand hence carbon emissions.This makes the matter of achieving sustainability targets within the CEP segment increasingly important.But where do responsibilities lie,what is

23、 already being done,and how do efforts need to pick up?In 2023,e-commerce was responsible for more than 70 percent of European CEP volumes.4In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?Achieving sustainability in CEP is a complex endeavor GovernmentGermanys

24、 Federal Climate Protection Law was passed in 2021.It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent by 2030,compared to 1990 levels,and to reach net zero by 2045.While each sector was initially prescribed its own emissions targets,a recent amendment saw these scrapped,and individual ministri

25、es are no longer responsible for enforcing caps or preparing recovery plans.Instead,the government as a whole will take collective responsibility for reducing emissions across all economic sectors to still meet the overall target.While this has drawn criticism from several environmental groups,the n

26、et-zero target remains,and the government is using a carrot-and-stick approach to stop practices that are harmful to the global climate balance.This means that the pressure is still on for the transport sector.Specifically,five of the eight climate protection building blocks established by the Feder

27、al Environment Agency apply to the CEP industry.These have been designed to realize the countrys net-zero ambitions and offer affordable traffic solutions,with priorities shifting as funding is released:Establishing an efficient infrastructure for electric trucks.Until the beginning of 2024,subsidie

28、s were granted for the purchase of electric trucks.This incentive is now giving way for the next steps:after investing around 1.9 billion in a charging network for electric vehicles(EVs),Germany is set up to operate the largest public charging network for commercial EVs in the EU.Second,it has set a

29、 target for at least 300 hydrogen truck refueling stations by 2030 which,among other transports,supports the long-distance linehaul movements of parcels.As with all large-scale societal challenges,decarbonizing the CEP industry will require concerted and collaborative effort between government and i

30、ndustry,along with vendors and consumers.In this section,we highlight both the advances that have been made and the actions required to shift the sustainability dial in CEP,with a focus on the German market.5In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?Remo

31、val of the diesel fuel tax privilege.It will gradually phase out tax breaks on diesel.Applying climate charges.Germanys toll system at the end of 2023 added smaller trucks weighing 3.5 tons or above,and for trucks it was expanded to include CO2 emission classes:its CO2 charges range between 4 and 16

32、 cents per kilometer depending on the emission class of the truck.Emission-free trucks were exempt from paying tolls until the end of 2025.Modernizing the rail network.In September 2023,the Federal Government of Germany and Deutsche Bahn(DB)announced a 45 billion infrastructure program for the count

33、rys railways,focused on modernizing the network and increasing its capacity for freight transport.An additional 1.7 billion subsidy scheme has also been established to support first-and last-mile shunting of wagons and wagon groups before and after they travel in full freight trains.Promoting green

34、e-fuels.Germany is one of a handful of countries that has put serious effort into enabling combustion engines to run in a climate-neutral way,using synthetic green e-fuels.Incentivized by a share of 1.9 billion of government support for the rollout of e-fuels and of advanced biofuels by 2026,an alli

35、ance of 16 companies is building the countrys first industrial-scale e-fuel factory with the aim of starting production by the end of 2026.What more can the government do?While the government has imposed clear emissions and net-zero targets,what it has not done is encourage transportation companies

36、to rethink their networks,or challenge the status quo in terms of routes,frequency,consolidation,and distribution,particularly when it comes to the last mile of the transport chain,when final delivery is made to a recipient.To address this critical need,we see three key moves that the government can

37、 make to push companies in the right direction:Encourage the use of out-of-home(OOH)deliveries.Self-service delivery options such as DHLs Packstations(parcel lockers)are becoming more popular with consumers and reduce the number of door deliveries,decreasing last-mile emissions.Recently,Norways Tran

38、sport Economics Institute published a study on parcel lockers and their impact on CO2 reduction.According to this study,picking up parcels at automated lockers can result in a 30 percent reduction of CO2 in local emissions.However,municipalities often impose restrictions that prevent locker network

39、providers from expanding and providing more capacity at local facilities,or even place conditions on how lockers appear and where they are placed outdoors.Instead,authorities should look for ways to foster these networks.Another action they can take is to limit home delivery windows or access for de

40、livery vehicles in certain areas,making home delivery less convenient than OOH.It may also be feasible to provide public space available only for neutral brand lockers or even neutral box operators.Another measure is to subsidize lockers in underserved remote areas by the rent collected in urban are

41、as.Regulators might also consider enforcing minimum densities of OOH networks or a price differentiation between door delivery and OOH delivery for end consumers or an obligatory price leverage for returns in general or specifically for door shipments.Needless to say,the environmental benefit is onl

42、y there if the OOH networks are sufficient to avoid additional private car traffic.And finally,securing attractive locations and rent conditions to local walkable stores which also provide OOH service is part of excellent city planning and management.A cargo bike rental offering could be added.6In a

43、 world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?Enforce more zero-emission zones and requirements to pool last-mile deliveries.As of 2023,Germany had 52 low-emission zones covering 70 cities.Expanding both the reach and provisions of these zones would help to cut

44、emissions further,for example by establishing low-emission areas in more towns and cities or establishing a zero-emission rule for delivery vehicles in these zones.For urban door deliveries,regional authorities could tender single-provider services,especially when more lockers are in use that can st

45、ill be served direct by all CEP players.This would in turn incentivize investment in more locker infrastructure.Doubling down on e-charging infrastructure at parcel depots.A combination of enforcing the installation of such charging infrastructure and at the same time working with the local network

46、grid providers in a government-orchestrated effort to quickly connect the sorting centers and local depots could significantly speed up the BEV transition of all CEP vehicles,both for linehaul and for first/last mile.This transition has significantly slowed due to recent cost hikes as a result of lo

47、wer residual vehicles values.Banning short-haul cargo flights.Short-haul cargo within Europe is flown in specific aircraft for urgent matters,while the majority of air cargo travels between airport hubs and small airports on so-called road feeder services(for example,with trucks).The EU could legisl

48、ate an enforced transition for inner European cargo on air to travel either as belly freight in passenger aircraft or in electric cargo planes as are already in use in Scandinavia.CEP playersAs was mentioned earlier,over the past years growing economic pressure has presented a significant challenge

49、to many sustainability efforts of CEP players.CEP players are battling with higher energy prices,higher tolls,more fluctuation between weekdays and seasons,as well as a shortage of trained personnel.This comes at a time when end consumers are similarly more cash-strapped and price-conscious due to t

50、he impact of inflation.One recent industry casualty serves as a case in point.Liefergrn,an emission-free delivery start-up launched in 2020,landed 12 million in funding in 2022 and was able to convince several popular e-tailers to adopt its cargo bike and e-van delivery model.But in early 2024 it ha

51、d to file for bankruptcy,showing that making sustainability succeed in CEP is not a walk in the park.Another project,Amazons Basecamp collaboration with the mobility service provider Lueg for 3,000 e-vans in Germany,was called off for unanticipated cost increases.Nevertheless,not pursuing a sustaina

52、ble future is also not an option,and there are many motivations for CEP firms to do their bit and green the last mile.For a start,their brandsand profitabilitywill benefit:research by Kantar indicates that firms with a high sustainability contribution to brand value have,on average,demonstrated 20 p

53、ercent greater growth over a four-year period than those whose sustainability contribution to brand value is lower.Whats more,according to HEC Paris,better performance on recognized sustainability indices has been shown to attract more attention from financial analysts and result in a higher percent

54、age of equity held by long-term investors over time.As for consumers,although their willingness to pay is low,in general they are leaning more toward sustainable optionswhile that all-important“need it now”mentality,and specifically in Germany the“return”mentality,continue to prevail,dropping more p

55、arcels into circulation.But perhaps most crucially,the global legal and regulatory machine is already cranking up to force the issue,meaning that delivery companies that tarry behind risk having to play an increasingly difficult game of catchup.Nice parcel locker locations already blocked by other d

56、edicated systems is only one example for this.7In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?So,what are CEP providers doing in response?Many,especially the larger established firms,have had sustainability on the agenda for at least a decade.Having scanned r

57、ecent developments across the market,we can see they are working toward a diverse range of goals across their linehaul,last-mile,and logistics centers.To exemplify their efforts,let us take a look at what DHL has been up to in recent months,including but not limited to the following:DHL,the worlds l

58、eading logistics company,has committed to reduce its scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 42 percent between 2021 and 2030,and to cut indirect scope 3 emissions by 25 percent over the same period.Having been operating its Packstation lockers in Germany since 2003,its more recent last-mile activities inc

59、lude establishing a neutral brand locker system where locally required or preferred,collaborating with the residential real estate company Vonovia to install lockers on its many properties,and piloting the use of solar ships to deliver parcels across Berlins river Spree.It also has 25,000 electric d

60、elivery vans in operationthe largest alternative engine fleet in Germany,and just over 40 percent of its total fleet.As for moving freight and goods in truck linehauls sustainably,DHL has 13 electric trucks in Berlin,along with a subsidized charging infrastructure.It also has around 350 biogas truck

61、s operating nationwide,served by 11 dedicated fueling stations at its parcel hubs,and offers its customers the option to choose biofuel,rather than traditional petrol,to transport their shipments.In a most recent update,the DHL Group reaffirmed its commitment to decarbonization through integrating s

62、ustainability as the fourth target dimension into the established strategy framework.The other key market playersHermes,DPD,GLS,and Amazon Logisticssimilarly follow their respective sustainability agendas and plans to further reduce emissions.They are each trialing alternative modes of transport or

63、engines,improving energy efficiency of their sorting centers,or testing sustainable packaging options,to name a few points of interest.Obviously,with more government support as outlined above,all players could move faster without fear of creating a competitive cost and price disadvantage.What more c

64、an CEP players do?While there is plenty of activity under way across the sector,its clear that much more needs to be done.In addition,consistency is crucial,especially in difficult times:this will not only serve to gain customers trust and make accusations of greenwashing less likely,but continuing

65、to pursue green solutions could also help firms navigate economic uncertainty by reducing their costs.For instance,optimizing last-mile tour routings could help reduce driven distances,saving both cost and emissions.The only issue is that todays tours are mostly planned and executed by subcontracted

66、 companies,which are mostly too small to afford CEP-dedicated technology.However,we are convinced that with time technology,regulations,and eventually cost benefits and the adaption by carriers and consumers will increase.We see three main sources of potential for CEP players in the short term:Optim

67、ize day-to-day operations.With the CEP market expected to continue growing in the coming years,parcel networks should not only consider how to decarbonize their services and supply chains,but also reassess their capacities and capabilities by taking a fresh look at their sorting networks and smaller

68、 depot locations while deploying advanced analytics for transport planning and management,thus cutting unnecessary journeys and improving asset and vehicle utilization.Other measures are to create more transparency and incentives for driver behavior for fuel/electricity efficiency,more dynamic route

69、 allocation to subcontractors and drivers,and incentivizing consumers to grantand drivers to really usedesignated drop-off locations to avoid unnecessary commutes to drop-off points.8In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?More choice of delivery time

70、options.An additional measure would be changing standard delivery promises from same-day,next-day,or named-day time slots to a wider range of days or dates(at least on certain lanes).This can be done with or without more price differentiation but with some nudging to the greener option.This would gi

71、ve operators some leeway to ensure that trucks or trailers are at full capacity,and still deliver to customers within the promised time.Since buffer space along the journey does not exist in CEP depots and sorting centers to any relevant degree,this implies analytics-based optimization along the ent

72、ire journey including in collaboration with the shippers.Improved packaging offerings.CEP players can collaborate more with shippers to create cartons produced to the exact shipment size,thus avoiding filling material and transporting extra aireven if it reduces their own partially size-based revenu

73、e per parcel.Or even better,as is sometimes already done depending on the product characteristics,ship directly with the product box instead of adding transport carton and plastics wrapping.We are more cautious regarding reusable packaging for end consumers.While more locker usage would also make re

74、usable packaging systems more cost efficient,one always has to look at the entire eco balance of the total circle;many plastics-based reusable systems including the additional transport and cleaning do not necessarily beat fit recycled cardboard.Improve energy efficiency in buildings.As we have seen

75、 from several of the large established delivery players,parcel hubs and depots provide ample opportunities to improve sustainability.In line with Germanys Climate Action Program,which aims to reduce emissions by making buildings more energy-efficient,renewable or climate-friendly heating and cooling

76、 systems such as solar cells,air heat pumps,and geothermal energy can make a relevant difference to CEP companies emissions targets.Most importantly,roof insulation and living roofs can help manage temperature and noise.Charge for doorstep deliveries to make OOH options the preferred choice.Some CEP

77、 service providers have already started to do so,mainly to promote their locker networks and account for the fact that in cities,lockers can save up to 1 euro of total delivery cost compared to door delivery.Since the CEP market is price-wise super competitive and it is no secret that even some of t

78、he largest players are not earning their cost of capital,the most likely avenue is not making OOH less expensive but making door delivery more expensive.Mobile lockers.In addition to stationary lockers,CEP companies might also consider mobile lockers such as Smarcel,as created by the inventors of th

79、e DHL Packstation,and MoPS,which is currently being tested by the logistics provider CityLog.These are hosted in small parcel trucks or trailers,which are able to change location,allowing delivery companies to determine the best routes and parking spots each day,depending on where recipients are loc

80、ated.The added bonus is that mobile lockers arent subject to the planning permissions and limits that plague fixed locker systems.This means carriers could potentially deploy them more easily,giving more customers another option for receiving deliveries,and reducing CO2 emissions at the same time.Wh

81、ile not yet widespread in Germany,we believe OOH could create a virtuous cycle relatively quickly,with all parties benefiting as adoption increases(see figure 3 on page 10).Other disruptive ideas come with far higher obstacles to implementation due to the associated costs,necessary regulations,matur

82、ity of technology,and customer adoption,to name a few.These ideas include autonomous delivery vans and small pods;electric drones;robots that load and deliver parcels to OOH locations and to doorsteps;in-building robots for the“last indoor meter”;or subterranean systems with conveyors or parcel hype

83、rloops.9In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?ShippersWhile paying more for sustainable parcel transport and deliveries is an option that is already out there,and we expect that willingness to do this will rise,it doesnt apply to all shippers.In fact

84、,findings from our recent shipper survey reveal that there are three distinct groups when it comes to concern for sustainable shipping(see figure 4 on page 11).First,our survey results suggest that large e-commerce marketplaces,which are focused on high shipment volumes that guarantee them low price

85、s,are least likely to pay for green deliveries.Next are the brands that either have ambitious climate goals or have placed sustainability at the core of their business model.Because their green credentials have already been established via their products and services or actions on sustainability,the

86、y dont necessarily need green delivery options and are less willing to pay for these.Finally,there are online retailers for whom green shipping is a valuable contributor to brand perception.These are keen to use a green CEP carrier and are more willing to pay for it.Source:Kearney analysisFigure 3Th

87、e OOH(out-of-home)trend creates a positive reinforcing cycle with all parties benefitting from increased adoptionCost advantageOperational efficiencies in the last-mile delivery and increased utilization leads to reduced unit costs due to high operating leverage.Higher ease of use shared-economy efe

88、ctScale effects influence convenience similar to any other shared economy,where more availability leads to more usage.Increased e-tailer ofer inclusionAs recipients appreciate OOH options,the number of merchants nudging toward them increases and e-tailers are encouraged to incentivize the option.Imp

89、roved consumer adoptionHigh ease of use through availability and good software solutionAdvantages over traditional delivery options(e.g.,24/7)Receiver10In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?What more can shippers do?Given the limitations we have obse

90、rved on shippers paying more for low-emission or emission-free deliveries,there are three other ways for them to become more sustainable:Reduce order frequency.There are various tactics shippers could employ to encourage this,for example by offering customers incentives to place larger orders,rather

91、 than requesting separate deliveries for single items.Amazon is already using a similar approach by giving customers the option to group items from different retailers together in a single delivery,which tends to come slightly later than if items were dispatched separately.Increasing minimum order v

92、alue is another option,however the risk here is of customers filling their basket with random items and then returning themwhich would cancel out the environmental benefit of the single orderrather than waiting to group their purchases.A few retailers have countered this by moving from free to paid

93、returns,but with free returns still holding sway in e-commerce,it remains to be seen what the impact of this will beworst case being more unwanted items going to landfill.Another option could be dynamic pricing to nudge customers to consolidate return flows.Source:Kearney analysisFigure 4As the impo

94、rtance of sustainability for recipients and shippers increases,the willingness to pay starts to rise,leading to a need for green carriersWillingness to paySustainability importanceIntrinsic motives driving sustainability strategy(e.g.,brand strategy and values)Need for:Green carrierGreen productExtr

95、insic motives driving sustainability strategy(e.g.,ESG scores,governmental rules,end-customer driven)Large e-commerce players focusing on volume and low prices11In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?Prioritize and promote OOH delivery options.Shipper

96、s can push OOH delivery by promoting it as a benefit in their shipping options.For example,if the CEP provider has shared the cost benefit with them,they could extend this to recipients via a dedicated marketing campaign.Over time,this could help lift consumers knowledge and awareness of the environ

97、mental impact of different delivery methods.If positioned well,OOH could even become the new go-to delivery choice.Promote circularity.Especially when it comes to balanced B2B shipment lanes,reusable packaging can be an easy and cost-efficient way to reduce waste and emissions.There are even first a

98、ttempts to bring this to B2C deliveries,for instance lockers serving as the package,meaning the parcel/protection of the product stays in the locker.Recipients/consumersWhile changing their own shopping and consumption behaviors is undoubtedly the most effective way for customers to help reduce emis

99、sions in the CEP segment,this strategy is probably the most difficult to achieve.According to a study published by the consumer and market insights organization GfK,75 percent of people believe that their own behavior has an impact on the climate.Additionally,almost half(46 percent)of participants s

100、aid that if they act in an environmentally friendly way,but others do not,this doesnt help the situation.Finally,48 percent of respondents indicated that acting sustainably is perceived as more expensive,and given the current economic environment,is not a priority.What more can recipients do?While i

101、t looks as though paying a premium for green delivery options is not likely to be a popular choice for many consumers,a few alternative changes in behavior look more feasible:Place orders more consciously.For the recipients,ordering larger basket sizes instead of multiple,individual items comes back

102、 to personal motivation,which,as we have discussed,can be difficult to influence.The essence for online shoppers to understand is that the more conscious,sustainable action does not necessitate spending moreit can be as easy as thinking twice about placing that order and holding off until you think

103、of additional items to add to the basket.Avoid returns where possible.For the most part,returns are still free of charge for online shoppers,hence they can easily send back whatever they choose not to keep.While returns may be comfortable especially in fashion,the amount of these shipments and the e

104、missions they cause can be reduced(for example,by thorough reading of product information,reviews,and size charts).Shop less impulsively.Consumers must be aware that their online shopping orders create traffic and emissions,hence every small order and delivery stop counts.Certainly,consumers must be

105、 in a position where they can base their shopping not only on economic,but also environmental,concerns,and can pass up tempting online shopping deals.Our survey results suggest that large e-commerce marketplaces are least likely to pay for green deliveries.12In a world addicted to online shopping,ca

106、n the parcel delivery industry really go green?Embrace OOH options.This is the most powerful way that recipients can contribute to making CEP deliveries more sustainable.Consolidated deliveries to fewer locations could save thousands of kilometers each month on the last meters to the doorstep,slashi

107、ng CO2 emissions significantly.Select green delivery options.Many CEP companies and e-commerce retailers have already introduced different pricing options,so customers can choose to pay extra for green deliveries,or to offset the emissions caused by their order(for example,sustainable aviation fuel)

108、.The challenge here is how to encourage more people to choose the environmentally friendlybut still mostly more expensiveoption,especially during periods of economic instability.Adopt more sustainable buying habits.Since superfast deliveries turned online shopping from a waiting game into an instant

109、 experience,this has created a new form of loyaltyto speedand made it easier for customers to indulge in impulse buys.This could be another hard habit to break,but if more customers were to group their purchases into fewer baskets and deliveries,this would significantly reduce the number of journeys

110、 taken by CEP providers,the number of vehicles out on the road,and by extension,their share of harmful emissions.In addition to these measures,we should also distinguish between corporate and private customers.Or,in other words,between the businesses that use CEP companies to ship their e-commerce o

111、rders and the consumers who receive orders from the parcel company.Lets see how these shippers and recipients can make their own specific contributions.Embracing OOH options is the most powerful way that recipients can contribute to making CEP deliveries more sustainable.13In a world addicted to onl

112、ine shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?Does CEP have a sustainable future?The CEP market is set to see continued growth in the coming years.Is that future going to be characterized by a significant shift to sustainable deliveries?Could 2025 really be the“year of the locker”for

113、 many European countries catching up on the penetration in Poland?Legislation is largely on hold given the changing overall political landscape and fear of hurting the general economy.CEP players and consumers are maybe the better bet for moving faster in a sustainable future.While there are signs o

114、f progress,theres still some way to go before the last mile can go green.Figure 5 shows that several impactful ideas are simply not that easy to implement for a variety of reasons(for example,regulations,technology,economy,and so on).On the other hand,there are actions which do not take much effort,

115、maybe just courage and out-of-the-box thinking,breaking habits and the status quo.Government,CEP players,and customers all have a part to play in making it happen.The big question that remains is:Will they?Notes:CEP is courier,express,and parcel.OOH is out of home delivery(e.g.,when parcel is delive

116、red to parcel shop or locker).Source:Kearney analysisFigure 5From governments to CEP companies,from shippers to recipientsall have their role in making the last mile go greenEase of implementation/impact matrixImpactEase of implementationGovernmentCEP playersCustomers(shippers and receivers)Existing

117、 measuresEnforce OOH deliveryFlexible delivery time higher utilizationsLast-mile restrictionsPay more for green serviceMobile lockersMore conscious buying habitsMore OOHdeliverySmart lockers in homesReusable packagingRemoval dieselprivilegePost-fossilfuelsMicro depotsand cargo bikesAlternativeengine

118、s(last mile)CharginginfrastructureElectrificationsubsidiesMore parcellockersAlternativeengines(linehaul)ClimatechargesExpansionof railEnergy-eficienthubs/depotsBan short-haul cargo flightsDeliverydronesWheeled robots systemsAutonomous delivery vansAdditional measures14In a world addicted to online s

119、hopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?Sven RutkowskyPartner,Dsseldorf Tabea MuellerConsultant,Zurich Robert MorwindPrincipal,Munich Authors15In a world addicted to online shopping,can the parcel delivery industry really go green?For more information,permission to reprint or transl

120、ate this work,and all other correspondence,please email .A.T.Kearney Korea LLC is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the Kearney name in Korea.A.T.Kearney operates in India as A.T.Kearney Limited(Branch Office),a branch office of A.T.Kearney Limited,a company organized under the

121、 laws of England and Wales.2024,A.T.Kearney,Inc.All rights reserved.Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm.For nearly 100 years,we have been a trusted advisor to C-suites,government bodies,and nonprofit organizations.Our people make us who we are.Driven to be the difference between a big idea and making it happen,we work alongside our clients to regenerate their businesses to create a future that works for