IntroductionThe ongoing problem in the modern world is the need in every industry including transportation and logistics management focusing on the impact of green logistics for sustainable use of energy and energy alternatives for the future. The following literature review examines and assesses the state of the influence of this for today’s best transportation and logistics management planning for the future.
Logistics Management
The literature shows from a broad perspective how the scope of logistics connects to the service industry. It is about warehousing, inventory management, packaging and order processing, and of course, transportation. Green logistics is the intentional focus on sustainable green practices (Vasiliauskas, Zinkeviciute, & Simonyte, 2013; Sathaye, Li, Horvath, & Madanat, 2006; Motabon, Pagell, & Wu, 2016). This may include adapting to the use of electricity management systems as well as all possible green solutions. Green logistics specifically focuses on adapting to the use of green technology and practices. Doing so then allows firms offering stakeholders an advantage while remaining suitable for a better world environment (Whelan, 2014; Zysman & Huberty, 2014; Pitchford, 2015; Montabon, Pagell, & Wu, 2016; Max, 2014; The China Post Staff, 2014; Gunjal, Nalwade, Dhondge, Ingale, & Patil, 2015.
Consequently, making the organizational choice of green logistics has potential challenges. This may arise because of pressure from internal management to achieve outlined goals. On the other hand, this kind of move my take place both quickly and efficiently meeting the desires of the customer (Bartley, Koos, Samel, Setrini & Summers, 2015; Sarocha, 2014
Green Logistics
According to the article by Saroha (2014), “Green Logistics is defined as ‘efforts to measure and minimize the environmental impact of logistics activities, these activities include a proactive design for disassembly (p. 89).’” Along with Saroha (2014) others reason best practices for logistics managers of any organization is to opt for going green and view this as the competitive advantage in responding to the demand of customers to do so (. Adapting to a green transportation system is about reducing pollution. The logistics of going green is for the savings on transportation costs and it also influences reducing traffic congestion as well as promoting social harmony. Consequently, making an organizational decision for green logistics thus establishes the method for the entire infrastructure of the business (Gunjal, Nalwade, Dhondge, Ingale, & Patil, 2015; Bartley, Koos, Samel, Setrini, & Summers, 2015).
Transportation a Key Player
Review of Kumar and Shirisha (2014) and Katsioloudis and Jones (2012) underlines how transportation remains a key player in logistics management since this is essential to moving commercial goods and people or as applied to the logistics chain. “The application of management techniques and principles improves the moving, delivery, service, operation costs and the usage of facilities (Kumar & Shirisha, 2014, p. 14).” Further, “Transportation is without a doubt one of the biggest contributors to the destruction of our environment. We have seen decades of evolution in the transportation industry since the Industrial Revolution began (1820-1870) (Katsioloudis & Jones, 2012, p. 19).” Other research denotes the fundamental requirement of having an effective system without any ambiguity of the logistics management technique. Pragmatically, the application of green designed equipment and fuel sources is fundamental to the logistic management best practices (Katsioloudis & Jones, 2012; Kildow, 2011; Markman & Krause, 2014).
Further to Saroha (2014), it is logistics that remains an important function in effectively providing a modern green transport system for any organization. “Contemporary technological and spatial developments have improved the cost, efficiency and reliability of freight and passenger transport systems (Saroha, 2014, p. 89).” In addition, it is the negative impact on the environment where transportation gained such infamous recognition and continues framing issues of sustainability. With the application of logistics historically having a general and positive reputation for efficiency of organizational transportation systems, then the suggestion emerges that green logistics and transportation are environmentally friendly.
It is also argued while logistics possibly links to less transportation systems proving less environmentally damaging, the paradoxes created exist nonetheless.
Kumar and Shirisha (2014) report how nearly 40 to 50 percent of organizational transportation costs take up the logistics with 4 to 10 percent linked to many companies in their product selling prices and may pose the greatest concern for logistics management. There exists a lack of integrated thinking even at the governmental level and underlines the present problems and crisis many logistics management teams face. “Considerable knowledge is required of transportation pricing, services, and regulation, both domestic and international, to manage the transportation process and to operate … (a green) logistics system efficiently (Kumar & Shirisha, 2014, p. 19).”
Important Role of Research
Sathaye et al., (2006), report how transportation came to the forefront in the most recent decades in regards to its effect on the environment globally. This results in ongoing studies intentionally looking for gaining better understanding about the consequences of the pollutant emissions and ways for developing strategies for reducing transportation’s carbon footprint. A number of studies show an effort to define a long-term future direction for future both environment and transportation research encompassing a broader perspective that directly applies to green logistics systems and their impacts for future planning.
Conclusion
The above literature review, successfully provided how research indeed looks at organizational logistics management as fundamental to impacting adaption of green logistics for sustainable use of energy and energy alternatives for the future. A major gap that exists in the literature on the need for integrated thinking in the best manner to approach going green from the logistics management perspective encompassing a broader approach for future planning and green logistics according to the industry point of view.
- Bartley, T., Koos, S., Samel, H., Setrini, G., & Summers, N. (2015). Looking behind the Label: Global Industries and the Conscientious Consumer. Bloomington, IN: University of Indiana Press.
- Gunjal, P. U., Nalwade, P. M., Dhondge, D., Ingale, P.R., & Patil, A. (2015). Green Logistics: Improving The Sustainability of Logistics in Environmental and Organizational Point of View. International Journal of Science, Technology & Management. 4(3).
- Katsioloudis, P. J., & Jones, M. V. (2012). Green Transportation for a Green Earth: The Transportation Industry and Consumers Alike Are Concerned about the Environment, Energy Resources, Efficiencies, and Economics. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 71(7), 19.
- Kildow, C. F. (2011). A Supply Chain Management Guide to Business Continuity. New York: American Management Association.
- Kumar, G.S., & Shirisha, P. (2014). Transportation The Key Player in Logistics Management. Journal of Business Management & Social Sciences Research (JBM&SSR). 3(1). pp. 14-20.
- Markman, G., & Krause, D. (2014). Special Topic Forum on Theory Building Surrounding Sustainable Supply Chain Management. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 50(3), 98.
- Max, D. T. (2014, May 12). Green Is Good. The New Yorker, 90(12).
- Montabon, F., Pagell, M., & Wu, Z. (2016). Making Sustainability Sustainable. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 52(2), 11.
- Pitchford, G. (2015, July-August). Make Way for the CSO: Chief Sustainability Officers Command Expert Knowledge and a Holistic View to Bring Remarkable ROI to Businesses That Prioritize Environment. Alternatives Journal, 41(4), 16.
- Sarocha, R. (2014). Green Logistics & its Significance in Modern Day Systems. International Review of Applied Engineering Research. ISSN 2248-9967. 4(1), pp. 89-92. © Research India Publications.
- Sathaye, N., Li, Y., Horvath, A., & Madanat, S. (2006). The Environmental Impacts of Logistics Systems and Options for Mitigation. WORKING PAPER UCB-ITS-VWP-2006-4. Retrieved from http://www.its.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/publications/UCB/2006/VWP/UCB-ITS-VWP-2006-4.pdf
- The China Post Staff. (2014, November 17). International Green Transportation Forum Kicks Off. China Post.
- Vasiliauskas, A. V., Zinkeviciute, V., & Simonyte, E. (2013). Implementation of the Concept of Green Logistics Reffering to it Applications for Road Freight Transport enterprises/Zaliosios Logistikos Koncepcijos Taikymas Pasitelkiant It Prietaikas Keliu Transporto Imonese. Business: Theory and Practice, 14(1).
- Whelan, C. (2014). Embracing Green Principles Can Boost Companies’ Bottom Line and Economy. Cape Times (South Africa).
- Zysman, J., & Huberty, M. (Eds.). (2014). Can Green Sustain Growth? From the Religion to the Reality of Sustainable Prosperity. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.