Considering the city context in weighting sustainability criteria for last-mile logistics solutions

Abstract

Last-mile Logistics (LML) solutions in cities have become a priority due to the increasing demand for products, changes in population consumption, ai r quality challenges, population pressure, and economic downturns. There are many solutions to achieve a sustainable LML, as it depends on the characteristics and goals of each city. This study develops a weighting framework incorporating expert judgments and the contextual urban environment to identify the key criteria when evaluating sustainable LML solutions. The framework is applied in six European cities to examine how the sensitivity of the urban context influences the weights assigned to these criteria. By analysing the variations in weights, the study aims to understand the impact of contextual factors on the importance of different aspects of LML. We found that social and environmental sustainability are essential criteria. The urban context significantly influences the sustainability of different solutions, as each city has its own priorities and challenges. The methodology defined in this paper may contribute to helping policymakers to promote sustainable LML.