IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v195y2025ics0965856425000631.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Decarbonising last-mile deliveries: When the national strategy fails to meet local needs and expectations

Author

Listed:
  • Paddeu, Daniela

Abstract

This paper explores views and perceptions of 35 local authorities towards potential solutions to decarbonise last-mile deliveries in England and presents their perspectives towards potential challenges and drivers to their implementation. The methodological approach is based on co-design and participatory methods to enable local authorities with different knowledge and expertise to produce, through back-casting, a series of specific actions that can support the implementation of effective measures to decarbonise last-mile deliveries. Results were presented to and stress-tested with 25 councillors, to understand to what extent sustainable transport policies for last-mile deliveries meet political will. Findings show that behaviour change, and collaborative schemes have the potential to have a stronger impact than new and clean technologies in reducing carbon emissions from last-mile deliveries, even though their implementation would be more difficult and less politically appealing. The paper also considers how different levels of governance can contribute to enable the decarbonisation pathway and reveals that lack of power, capacity and capabilities on local freight would be a major challenge for local governments. The paper recommends prioritise stakeholder collaboration, clarifying governance roles, integrating freight into political agendas, adopting systems thinking for planning, and fostering end-consumer behaviour change to accelerate the transition to net-zero last-mile deliveries.

Suggested Citation

  • Paddeu, Daniela, 2025. "Decarbonising last-mile deliveries: When the national strategy fails to meet local needs and expectations," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:195:y:2025:i:c:s0965856425000631
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2025.104435
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856425000631
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tra.2025.104435?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hanna Vasiutina & Andrzej Szarata & Stanisław Rybicki, 2021. "Evaluating the Environmental Impact of Using Cargo Bikes in Cities: A Comprehensive Review of Existing Approaches," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Alan McKinnon, 2023. "Environmentally sustainable city logistics: minimising urban freight emissions," Chapters, in: Edoardo Marcucci & Valerio Gatta & Michela Le Pira (ed.), Handbook on City Logistics and Urban Freight, chapter 23, pages 463-482, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Buldeo Rai, Heleen & van Lier, Tom & Meers, Dries & Macharis, Cathy, 2017. "Improving urban freight transport sustainability: Policy assessment framework and case study," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 26-35.
    4. Dostie, Benoit & Li, Jiang & Card, David & Parent, Daniel, 2023. "Employer policies and the immigrant–native earnings gap," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 233(2), pages 544-567.
    5. Liu, Chengxi & Wang, Qian & Susilo, Yusak O., 2019. "Assessing the impacts of collection-delivery points to individual’s activity-travel patterns: A greener last mile alternative?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 84-99.
    6. Chen, Yi-Wen & Halford, Joseph T. & Hsu, Hung-Chia Scott & Lin, Chu-Bin, 2020. "Personal Bankruptcy Laws and Corporate Policies," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 55(7), pages 2397-2428, November.
    7. Mommens, Koen & Buldeo Rai, Heleen & van Lier, Tom & Macharis, Cathy, 2021. "Delivery to homes or collection points? A sustainability analysis for urban, urbanised and rural areas in Belgium," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    8. Mao Ye & Miles Zheng & Xiongshi Li, 2020. "Price Ceiling, Market Structure, and Payout Policies," NBER Working Papers 28054, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Marsden, Greg & Reardon, Louise, 2017. "Questions of governance: Rethinking the study of transportation policy," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 238-251.
    10. Lachapelle, Ugo & Burke, Matthew & Brotherton, Aiden & Leung, Abraham, 2018. "Parcel locker systems in a car dominant city: Location, characterisation and potential impacts on city planning and consumer travel access," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 1-14.
    11. Rhiannon Jerch & Panle Jia Barwick & Shanjun Li & Jing Wu, 2020. "Road Rationing Policies and Housing Markets," DETU Working Papers 2004, Department of Economics, Temple University.
    12. Akgün, Emine Zehra & Monios, Jason & Rye, Tom & Fonzone, Achille, 2019. "Influences on urban freight transport policy choice by local authorities," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 88-98.
    13. Huyen T. K. Le & Andre L. Carrel & Harsh Shah, 2022. "Impacts of online shopping on travel demand: a systematic review," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(3), pages 273-295, May.
    14. Daniela Paddeu & Paulus Aditjandra, 2020. "Shaping Urban Freight Systems via a Participatory Approach to Inform Policy-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, January.
    15. Outlaw, Joe L. & Hoag, Dana L.K., 2020. "Federal Policies and the West," Western Economics Forum, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 18(01), May.
    16. Tom S H Moerenhout, 2020. "Energy Pricing Policies and the International Trade Regime," Journal of International Economic Law, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(1), pages 119-141.
    17. Tai Wei LIM, 2020. "Housing Policies in Hong Kong," East Asian Policy (EAP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 12(01), pages 110-124, January.
    18. Haroldo V. Ribeiro & Diego Rybski & Jürgen P. Kropp, 2019. "Effects of changing population or density on urban carbon dioxide emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    19. Malik, Faheem Ahmed & Egan, Robert & Dowling, Conor Mark & Caulfield, Brian, 2023. "Factors influencing e-cargo bike mode choice for small businesses," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    20. Christiansen, Petter, 2018. "Public support of transport policy instruments, perceived transport quality and satisfaction with democracy. What is the relationship?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 305-318.
    21. Cathy Macharis, 2007. "Multi-criteria Analysis as a Tool to Include Stakeholders in Project Evaluation: The MAMCA Method," Chapters, in: Elvira Haezendonck (ed.), Transport Project Evaluation, chapter 5, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    22. Li, Tingting & Xie, Jinxing & Liu, Xin, 2020. "Consumer return policies in presence of a P2P market," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    23. Haugen, Molly J. & Paoli, Leonardo & Cullen, Jonathan & Cebon, David & Boies, Adam M., 2021. "A fork in the road: Which energy pathway offers the greatest energy efficiency and CO2 reduction potential for low-carbon vehicles?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    24. Paddeu, Daniela & Parkhurst, Graham & Rosenberg, Ges & Carhart, Neil & Taylor, Colin, 2024. "Promoting sustainable urban freight through stakeholder engagement to co-create decarbonisation pathways in the UK," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    25. Marsden, Greg & Groer, Stefan, 2016. "Do institutional structures matter? A comparative analysis of urban carbon management policies in the UK and Germany," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 170-179.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Paddeu, Daniela & Parkhurst, Graham & Rosenberg, Ges & Carhart, Neil & Taylor, Colin, 2024. "Promoting sustainable urban freight through stakeholder engagement to co-create decarbonisation pathways in the UK," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    2. Sina Mohri, Seyed & Ghaderi, Hadi & Van Woensel, Tom & Mohammadi, Mehrdad & Nassir, Neema & Thompson, Russell G., 2024. "Contextualizing alternative delivery points in last mile delivery," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    3. Giuffrida, Nadia & Calleo, Yuri & Di Zio, Simone & Pilla, Francesco & Ottomanelli, Michele, 2024. "Spatial participatory planning for urban logistics: A GIS-enhanced Real-Time Spatial Delphi approach," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    4. Akgün, Emine Zehra & Monios, Jason & Rye, Tom & Fonzone, Achille, 2019. "Influences on urban freight transport policy choice by local authorities," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 88-98.
    5. Daniela Paddeu & Paulus Aditjandra, 2020. "Shaping Urban Freight Systems via a Participatory Approach to Inform Policy-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Ma, Bohao & Teo, Chee-Chong & Wong, Yiik Diew, 2024. "Location analysis of parcel locker Network: Effects of spatial characteristics on operational performance," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    7. Tomislav Letnik & Katja Hanžič & Giuseppe Luppino & Matej Mencinger, 2022. "Impact of Logistics Trends on Freight Transport Development in Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Caspersen, Elise & Ørving, Tale & Tennøy, Aud, 2023. "Capacity reduction on urban main roads: How truck drivers adapted, and what effects and consequences they experienced," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 68-83.
    9. Leise Kelli de Oliveira & Carla de Oliveira Leite Nascimento & Paulo Renato de Sousa & Paulo Tarso Vilela de Resende & Francisco Gildemir Ferreira da Silva, 2019. "Transport Service Provider Perception of Barriers and Urban Freight Policies in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-17, December.
    10. Akgün, Emine Zehra & Monios, Jason & Cowie, Jonathan & Fonzone, Achille, 2024. "The retailer perspective on the potential for using urban consolidation centres (UCCs)," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    11. Kahalimoghadam, Masoud & Thompson, Russell G. & Rajabifard, Abbas, 2024. "Determining the number and location of micro-consolidation centres as a solution to growing e-commerce demand," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    12. Demostenis Ramos Cassiano & Bruno Vieira Bertoncini & Leise Kelli de Oliveira, 2021. "A Conceptual Model Based on the Activity System and Transportation System for Sustainable Urban Freight Transport," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-13, May.
    13. Colaço, Rui & de Abreu e Silva, João, 2025. "Are we moving online? Assessing the interactions between telework and grocery purchases, eating out and meal deliveries," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    14. Christiansen, Petter, 2020. "The effects of transportation priority congruence for political legitimacy," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 61-76.
    15. Marta Viu-Roig & Eduard J. Alvarez-Palau, 2020. "The Impact of E-Commerce-Related Last-Mile Logistics on Cities: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-19, August.
    16. Tornberg, Patrik & Odhage, John, 2018. "Making transport planning more collaborative? The case of Strategic Choice of Measures in Swedish transport planning," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 416-429.
    17. Samani, Ali Riahi & Talebian, Ahmadreza & Mishra, Sabyasachee & Golias, Mihalis, 2025. "Evaluating consumer shopping, delivery demands, and last-mile preferences: An integrated MDCEV-HCM approach," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    18. Huang, Liqiao & Long, Yin & Chen, Jundong & Yoshida, Yoshikuni, 2023. "Sustainable lifestyle: Urban household carbon footprint accounting and policy implications for lifestyle-based decarbonization," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    19. James, Nick & Menzies, Max, 2022. "Global and regional changes in carbon dioxide emissions: 1970–2019," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 608(P1).
    20. Khouja, Moutaz & Hammami, Ramzi, 2023. "Optimizing price, order quantity, and return policy in the presence of consumer opportunistic behavior for online retailers," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 309(2), pages 683-703.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:195:y:2025:i:c:s0965856425000631. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/547/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.