Environmental Sustainability in the Follow-Up and Evaluation Stage of Logistics Services Purchasing: Perspectives from UK Shippers and 3PLs

Bahr, Witold; Sweeney, Edward

Abstract

The purpose of the research described in this paper is to investigate the role played by the green agenda and sustainability in the follow-up and evaluation stage of the purchasing of logistics services. This stage is relatively under-explored in the extant academic literature. However, there is some evidence of a divergence between the perspectives of shippers and forwarders in this area. In this context, therefore, two carefully selected groups of UK-based supply chain management professionals—from shippers (i.e., manufacturers and retailers) and third-party logistics (3PLs)—were investigated using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were based on a data collection guide informed by the authors’ three overall research objectives. Data from the interviews were analysed using a combination of content analysis and grounded analysis. The findings suggest that, while shippers and 3PLs recognise a positive link between cost savings and the development of green initiatives, there is considerable room for improvement in this area in order to reorient the focus of the follow-up and evaluation stage from price and service levels towards sustainability. The authors’ exploratory research leads to the identification of a number of potentially fruitful areas for future research.

Citation

Bahr, W., & Sweeney, E. (2019). Environmental Sustainability in the Follow-Up and Evaluation Stage of Logistics Services Purchasing: Perspectives from UK Shippers and 3PLs. Sustainability, 11(9), Article 2460. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092460

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 18, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 26, 2019
• Publication Date: Apr 26, 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 25, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2024
• Journal: Sustainability
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 9
• Article Number: 2460
• Series Title: Environmentally Sustainable Third Party Logistics
• Series ISSN: 2071-1050
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092460
• Keywords: Third party logistics, Environment, Sustainable Transport, Supply chains, Green logistics, Decarbonizing distribution, Green logistics technology, Customer-3PL ,green collaboration
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/798475
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/9/2460