Resource information
Logistics is the backbone of industry
and commerce. As a discipline, it describes the management
and coordination of activities along supply chains. These
activities include freight transport, storage, inventory
management, materials handling and related information
processing. A large part of logistics activities are often
outsourced to specialized providers that provide
cost-effective services. Research has shown that, at least
in high income economies, the value of services is not
assessed in monetary and service quality terms alone. In
making decisions, logistics professionals are increasingly
taking into consideration external effects such as
emissions, pollution, noise, and accidents. 'Green
logistics' may not be an independent policy area.
Rather, the supply chain perspective provides a framework to
understand and deal with issues that are separate but
ultimately interrelated. Importantly, looking at supply
chains helps policy makers understand the interests and
actions of private sector operators. 'Green
logistics' may therefore propose a number of tools and
identify emerging sustainable solutions contributing to the
overarching objective of 'green growth.'
