Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.7
3.3
Journals
Sustainability
Special Issues
Low-Carbon Logistics and Supply Chain Management
sustainability-logo
Submit to Sustainability Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Low-Carbon Logistics and Supply Chain Management

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 9645

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Tomasz Nowakowski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: reliability; availability; mainatinability; safety engineering; means of transport operation and maintenace; logistic system modelling and simulation; resilience of logistic and transport systems
Dr. Agnieszka A. Tubis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: risk assessment and management; public transport; decision making and management; maintenance management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable supply chain management is a cooperation between companies forming a supply chain, which considers three primary priorities related to sustainable development, i.e., environmental, economic, and social. In light of the current energy and climate crisis, researchers' special attention is focused on environmental issues and the need to create so-called green supply chains. Sustainability, green, and low-carbon supply chain research are becoming increasingly important, especially in the face of current rapid industrial development. Moreover, although there is a growing trend in published results in this area, many authors note that this research is still in the early stages of development from a theoretical point of view.

The idea of a green supply chain was created in the 1990s, but since then, it has been developed by practitioners and researchers. Currently, many authors indicate that the management of green supply chains should concern areas such as green product design, green operational management regarding the sourcing of materials and purchases, production processes, and distribution of the finished product to customers, but also the end-of-life management of the product after its useful life. As you can see, green supply chain management is based on designing and operating green logistic systems, such as storage, transport, supply, and distribution systems, and their integration for sustainable cargo handling throughout the supply chain. In order to achieve these goals, it is necessary to implement appropriate management strategies within the organization and support logistic processes through modern technological solutions.

This Special Issue calls for original, interdisciplinary research covering the science of supply chain management and logistics systems engineering. It aims to present new approaches to modeling, designing, implementing, operating, and maintaining green supply chains based on low-carbon logistic systems. Theoretical and practical contributions, either qualitative or quantitative, are therefore welcome.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Design and operation of green logistic systems;
  • Sustainable, green, and low-carbon supply chain management;
  • Industry 4.0 as support for sustainable logistic systems;
  • Zero- and low-emission solutions for transport systems;
  • Sustainable transport strategies in smart cities;
  • Designing low-carbon solutions supporting the sustainable development of city logistics;
  • Modeling and simulation of low-emission solutions for logistic systems;
  • Maintenance and operation of low-carbon logistic systems.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Tomasz Nowakowski
Dr. Agnieszka A. Tubis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable practices
  • low carbon emissions
  • green supply chain
  • reverse logistics
  • sustainable city logistics
  • life cycle assessment
  • zero-emissions engineering solution

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

22 pages, 533 KiB  
Article
Low-Carbon Restructuring, R&D Investment, and Supply Chain Resilience: A U-Shaped Relationship
by Wanping Wang and Licheng Sun
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5723; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135723 - 21 Jun 2025
Viewed by 171
Abstract
Low-carbon restructuring serves as a critical strategy for enterprises to achieve the “dual-carbon” target and foster sustainable development, whereas supply chain resilience is essential for maintaining competitiveness in complex environments. Based on the data of Chinese A-share listed companies in the manufacturing industry [...] Read more.
Low-carbon restructuring serves as a critical strategy for enterprises to achieve the “dual-carbon” target and foster sustainable development, whereas supply chain resilience is essential for maintaining competitiveness in complex environments. Based on the data of Chinese A-share listed companies in the manufacturing industry from 2011 to 2023, this paper empirically examines the relationship between low-carbon restructuring, R&D investment, and supply chain resilience. This study reveals a U-shaped relationship between low-carbon restructuring and supply chain resilience, with an inflection point at approximately 2.34. R&D investment significantly strengthens supply chain resilience and positively moderates the relationship by accelerating technological synergies and optimizing resource allocation. Further analysis shows that heavily polluted industries face more pressure in the early stage of low-carbon restructuring compared to non-heavily polluted industries, but R&D investment has a more significant moderating effect on heavily polluted industries. The prediction results based on the Holt–Winters model show that the level of low-carbon restructuring in China’s manufacturing industry will increase steadily in the next seven years, with an average annual growth rate of about 0.021. These new findings are important for managers and researchers to improve supply chain resilience during the low-carbon transition process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 4382 KiB  
Article
The Management of Harmful Emissions from Heavy-Duty Transport Towards Sustainable Development
by Olena Stryhunivska, Bożena Zwolińska and Robert Giel
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 10988; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410988 - 14 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1114
Abstract
The increasing number of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) on roads has become a major contributor to harmful emissions, posing critical environmental challenges and exacerbating global warming. This study aims to establish correlations between road types and the emissions they generate, offering actionable insights for [...] Read more.
The increasing number of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) on roads has become a major contributor to harmful emissions, posing critical environmental challenges and exacerbating global warming. This study aims to establish correlations between road types and the emissions they generate, offering actionable insights for logistics planning and strategies to mitigate diesel vehicle emissions. The analysis is based on input data from a selected transport company, covering parameters such as vehicle type, average mileage, speed, and driving style, as well as environmental conditions like ambient temperature and humidity. Emissions and energy consumption levels are estimated using the COPERT model. A key research challenge involves accurately predicting and managing air pollution caused by HDVs under varying vehicular, technological, and fuel conditions, as well as fluctuating atmospheric and operational factors. The findings indicate that highway driving produces the highest emissions of pollutants such as Se and Zn, while urban peak hours record the highest levels of NOx, NO, and NO2. These results emphasise the critical role of strategic route selection in reducing total emissions and managing levels of individual harmful substances. This research highlights the importance of integrating sustainable practices into transport planning to reduce environmental impacts, align with global climate objectives, and advance sustainable development in the transport sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 492 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Factors Influencing the Development of Inland Navigation in Poland
by Emilia Teresa Skupień
Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6663; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156663 - 4 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1591
Abstract
The presented article concerns the development of inland navigation in Poland. The aim is to determine and analyse factors that influence the development of this branch of transportation. To determine the parameters that are subject to further analysis, the author analysed publications on [...] Read more.
The presented article concerns the development of inland navigation in Poland. The aim is to determine and analyse factors that influence the development of this branch of transportation. To determine the parameters that are subject to further analysis, the author analysed publications on the development of inland waterway transport. Then, three groups of respondents (scientists, shipping administration employees, and inland navigation captains) evaluated seven selected factors (demand, operational parameters, ports, service, waterways improvement, fleet, and crew) and their mutual influence. Responses were analysed using the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method. According to the results, the factors influencing inland navigation to the greatest extent are demand, operational parameters, and waterways improvement; at the same time, all these factors were evaluated as influencing the other factors. This means that by modelling these factors, e.g., through political tools, one can achieve the fastest and greatest impact on the development of inland navigation in Poland. The factors assessed as the most important, at the same time being identified as influencing others (not being their effect), are the factors that should be taken into account first, because they can have the fastest and greatest impact on the development of inland navigation in Poland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1646 KiB  
Article
Research on Coordination of Fresh Supply Chain Considering Supplier Misreporting and Consumer Return
by Zhijun Lin, Rui Chen, Laijun Luo and Haiping Ren
Sustainability 2024, 16(14), 6225; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16146225 - 20 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1514
Abstract
Misreporting is prevalent in supply chain characterized by asymmetric information, and its impact on the supply chain is substantial and cannot be overlooked. In order to explore the impact of fresh supplier’s misreporting decisions on fresh supply chain, this paper takes the fresh [...] Read more.
Misreporting is prevalent in supply chain characterized by asymmetric information, and its impact on the supply chain is substantial and cannot be overlooked. In order to explore the impact of fresh supplier’s misreporting decisions on fresh supply chain, this paper takes the fresh supply chain with a single fresh supplier and a single e-commerce enterprise as the research object, and constructs five Stackelberg game models based on the differences of supply chain information transparency and power structure. Particularly, the effect of fresh-keeping level on the after-sales rate and market demand of the product is incorporated into the model, and the following conclusions are drawn by solving and analyzing the decision results of the different models: (1) When the supplier has the decision advantage, it will not choose to misreport. But when it loses the decision advantage, it will produce the misreporting behavior. Supplier misreporting is detrimental to the retailer and the supply chain; specifically, it can lead to lower fresh-keeping level and higher after-sales rates. (2) In the decentralized decision-making model, it is more beneficial for the supply chain that the supplier has the leading right of decision-making. In the absence of misreporting, the leader’s profit is always higher than that of the follower. When there is misreporting, even if the retailer is the dominant player, its profit is still lower than the manufacturer’s. (3) Both supply chain profit and fresh-keeping level are positively correlated with the coefficient of consumer perception of freshness and the coefficient of sensitivity to fresh-keeping technology, and are more significant under the centralized decision-making model. Furthermore, in response to supplier misreporting behavior, this paper achieves coordination in the fresh supply chain by designing a joint contract and confirms the effectiveness of this contract through an arithmetic analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1021 KiB  
Article
Evaluating and Analyzing the Efficiency and Influencing Factors of Cold Chain Logistics in China’s Major Urban Agglomerations under Carbon Constraints
by Meiling He, Mei Yang, Xiaohui Wu, Jun Pu and Kazuhiro Izui
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1997; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051997 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2297
Abstract
With environmental degradation and energy shortages, green and low-carbon development has become an industry trend, especially in regards to cold chain logistics (CCL), where energy consumption and emissions are substantial. In this context, determining how to scientifically evaluate the cold chain logistics efficiency [...] Read more.
With environmental degradation and energy shortages, green and low-carbon development has become an industry trend, especially in regards to cold chain logistics (CCL), where energy consumption and emissions are substantial. In this context, determining how to scientifically evaluate the cold chain logistics efficiency (CCLE) under carbon emission constraints is of great significance for achieving sustainable development. This study uses the three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist index model to analyze the overall level and regional differences regarding CCLE in China’s four major urban agglomerations, under carbon constraints, from 2010 to 2020. Then, the influencing factors of CCLE are identified through Tobit regression. The results reveal that: (1) the CCLE in the four urban agglomerations is overestimated when carbon constraints are not considered; (2) the CCLE in the four urban agglomerations shows an upward trend from 2010 to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 1.25% in regards to total factor productivity. However, there are significant spatial and temporal variations, with low-scale efficiency being the primary constraint. (3) Different influencing factors have different directions and exert different effects on CCLE in different urban agglomerations, and the improvement of economic development levels positively affects all regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

23 pages, 4821 KiB  
Article
Coupling Coordination and Spatiotemporal Evolution of Low-Carbon Logistics, Industrial Agglomeration, and Regional Economy in the Yangtze River Economic Belt
by Yixuan Huang and Mingfei Liu
Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15739; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215739 - 8 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1688
Abstract
The logistics industry plays a crucial role in the global economy, but also poses significant challenges to the economy, society, and environment due to increasing carbon emissions. Therefore, coordinated development between the logistics industry and regional economy has become a strategic choice for [...] Read more.
The logistics industry plays a crucial role in the global economy, but also poses significant challenges to the economy, society, and environment due to increasing carbon emissions. Therefore, coordinated development between the logistics industry and regional economy has become a strategic choice for achieving sustainable development. Taking the Yangtze River Economic Belt as an example, this study constructs an evaluation index system of “low-carbon logistics–industrial agglomeration–regional economy” to explore the coupling coordination relationship and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the three systems from 2006 to 2020. Furthermore, it analyzes the spatial correlation features and evolutionary trends of the coordinated development among the three systems. The results indicate that during the study period, the coupling coordination degree among the three systems in the Yangtze River Economic Belt showed a fluctuating upward trend but with a relatively low level of coordination. There were significant regional differences, presenting a stepped distribution pattern of “high in the east and low in the west.” The coordinated development among the three systems exhibited a significant positive spatial correlation, with “H–H” and “L–L” agglomerations being dominant. The spatial distribution of coupling coordination degree remained relatively stable, with the overall center of gravity located in the southeast of Hubei Province. The spatial evolution pattern showed a distinct “northeast–southwest” direction. Finally, suggestions for the coordinated and sustainable development of the three systems are put forward. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop