Green Logistics. A critical view of the environmentally-friendly measures in the transport and logistics sector

What is the main motivation for the implementation of environmentally friendly concepts by logistics companies? Are there really noble goals behind this movement or is it more based on the improvement of their public image?

The goal of this Bachelor thesis is to identify clearly if the measures of the logistics and transport sectors are just to improve their image or if they want to make a significant and real contribution to environmental protection. Furthermore, it will analyse if the implementation of these ecological strategies comes along with economic advantages.

To be able to answer these questions, different exemplary “Green Logistics” concepts will be considered critically with a focus on the implementation of alleged environmentally friendly measures in the transport and logistics sector.

In recent years, climate change and global warming were again and again big topics in politics, the economy and society. International debate about greenhouse gases as well as noise and fine dust pollution attracted considerable attention from the public. According to the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is becoming obvious that the causes of climate change are the greenhouse gases. This has led to an increased awareness for environmental protection by the general public in relation to the importance for the current and the next generations.

Due to various actions and events, for instance, the nuclear accident in Fukushima and flood disasters in central Europe, the topic of environmental protection has developed as an important element of human action. The essential reason for global warming is the way in which humans live their lives.
In particular, in the western countries the way of life has changed drastically with the introduction of industrialization. Therefore, large quantities of coal, oil and gas are burned resulting in a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). That is why the industrialised countries have to carry such a big responsibility when it comes to protecting the environment.