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To Green or Not to Green: A Political, Economic and Social Analysis for the Past Failure of Green Logistics

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  • Matthias Klumpp

    (Department of Industrial Engineering and Business Information Systems (IEBIS), University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
    Institute for Logistics and Service Management, FOM University of Applied Sciences, Leimkugelstr. 6, 45141 Essen, Germany)

Abstract

The objective of green logistics has thus far failed. For example, the share of greenhouse gas emissions by the transportation and logistics sector in Europe rose from 16.6% in 1990 to 24.3% in 2012. This article analyzes the reasons behind this failure by drawing on political, economic and business as well as social motivations and examples. At the core of this analysis are the established theorems of the Jevons paradox and the median voter (Black, Downs) in combination with time-distorted preferences of voters and consumers. Adding to the hurdles of green logistics are the problems of short-term political programs and decisions versus long-term business investments in transportation and logistics. Two cases from Germany are outlined regarding this political “meddling through” with a recent 2015 truck toll decision and the support for electric trucks and vehicles. Finally, the article proposes two ways forward: public control and restriction of carbon raw materials (coal, oil), as well as public investment in low-emission transport infrastructure or biofuels as the more feasible and likely alternative.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthias Klumpp, 2016. "To Green or Not to Green: A Political, Economic and Social Analysis for the Past Failure of Green Logistics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:5:p:441-:d:69422
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    Cited by:

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    4. Kovács, Olivér, 2017. "Az ipar 4.0 komplexitása - II [The Complexity of Industry 4.0 - Part 2]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(9), pages 970-987.
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    8. Malmaeus, Mikael & Hasselström, Linus & Mellin, Anna & Nyblom, Åsa & Åkerman, Jonas, 2023. "Addressing rebound effects in transport policy – Insights from exploring five case studies," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 45-55.
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