Work

Towards Sustainable Urban Freight: A Collaborative Business Model Framework for Last-Mile Consolidation Centres

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Urban freight transport is responsible for creating negative transport externalities in the form of noise and congestion and has a significant environmental impact. One solution is to establish a freight consolidation centre, which could offer benefits such as shorter delivery distances, and fewer delivery routes. However, this would require collaboration between actors with conflicting interests and goals. In this study, we propose a collaborative business model framework for freight consolidation centres. This framework was tested through a pilot project in Gothenburg, using the principles of engaged scholarship. Our results show that last-mile consolidation significantly increases efficiency and enables sustainability gains to be achieved. However, a number of structural, economic and organisational barriers need to be addressed in order to realise the full benefit of the collaborative business model. There is a need for a deeper institualisation of new norms, procedures and policies in the business models of the individual actors involved.

Source: World Electric Vehicle Journal

DOI: 10.3390/wevj17040202

Authors: Tatjana Apanasevic, Anna Fjällström

Institution: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Language: English

Topic: Urban and Freight Transport Logistics

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,689