Sustainable logistics: in search of solutions for a challenging new problem

Three years ago the international consulting company BearingPoint conducted a survey study exploring actions taken by companies seeking to enhance the sustainability of their operations. They summed up their findings by stating: „When companies take action, they are typically taking the easy route of reputation and brand protection on green messaging” (s. BearingPoint Inc. (2008)). This may be one reason why quantum leaps towards the goal of sustainable logistics are not being observed in the business world. Unfortunately science, in this respect, does not seem to have moved far ahead of business practice either. Harris et al. (2010, p.116) state that „there has been little research on the impacts of supply chain practices on green logistics performance”. And after combing through the current literature Halldorsson et al. (2009, p. 89) evaluate the level of discussion as “rather sobering”.