Abstract
Purpose: Global Logistics Hubs (GLHs) play a critical role in facilitating global trade flows due to their strategic locations and supply chain supporting functions, and in providing regional benefits via increased foreign direct investment and enhanced employment and education. However, there is limited research on GLHs generally and their environmental sustainability in particular. This paper explored the latter to improve understanding of GLH environmental performance for academic practice.
Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research approach using stakeholder theory consisted of four case studies in Rotterdam, Antwerp, Liverpool and the Suez Canal Economic Zone GLHs. Thirty-three interviews were conducted across three stakeholder levels: GLH port authority/operator, users including freight forwarders and logistic companies, and community stakeholders including government agencies/trade associations. Data was coded in NVivo and thematically analysed..
Findings: Respondents considered government and port authorities should be responsible for setting out, monitoring, and improving environmental sustainability due to their oversight, connections, power, and authority. The most common GLH environmental impacts noted were greenhouse gas emissions, water and air pollution, waste generation, biodiversity and ecosystem impacts, energy and water consumption and noise, supporting exiting literature for individual stakeholder sectors. However, interactions among them are fragmented, suggesting a more standardised evaluation approach be used.
Research limitations/implications (if applicable): This study focused on a limited sample of four GLHs in Europe/North Africa and while the findings are transferable, they are not necessarily generalizable. This study also focused on maritime GLHs, however GLHs are also reliant on airports, rail, and road for global cargo access. Future research should investigate other global contexts, including air and land based GLHs
Originality/value: An integrated GLH stakeholder framework, comprising 15 environmental measures and 51 individual environmental indicators, was developed to inform further research and practitioner adoption. This framework can be by GLH owners and developers, policymakers and governments, and intergovernmental organizations to evaluate and improve GLH environmental performance.
Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research approach using stakeholder theory consisted of four case studies in Rotterdam, Antwerp, Liverpool and the Suez Canal Economic Zone GLHs. Thirty-three interviews were conducted across three stakeholder levels: GLH port authority/operator, users including freight forwarders and logistic companies, and community stakeholders including government agencies/trade associations. Data was coded in NVivo and thematically analysed..
Findings: Respondents considered government and port authorities should be responsible for setting out, monitoring, and improving environmental sustainability due to their oversight, connections, power, and authority. The most common GLH environmental impacts noted were greenhouse gas emissions, water and air pollution, waste generation, biodiversity and ecosystem impacts, energy and water consumption and noise, supporting exiting literature for individual stakeholder sectors. However, interactions among them are fragmented, suggesting a more standardised evaluation approach be used.
Research limitations/implications (if applicable): This study focused on a limited sample of four GLHs in Europe/North Africa and while the findings are transferable, they are not necessarily generalizable. This study also focused on maritime GLHs, however GLHs are also reliant on airports, rail, and road for global cargo access. Future research should investigate other global contexts, including air and land based GLHs
Originality/value: An integrated GLH stakeholder framework, comprising 15 environmental measures and 51 individual environmental indicators, was developed to inform further research and practitioner adoption. This framework can be by GLH owners and developers, policymakers and governments, and intergovernmental organizations to evaluate and improve GLH environmental performance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 14 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Sept 2023 |
| Event | 13th International Conference on Logistics and Transport 2023 - Helsinki, Finland Duration: 27 Sept 2023 → 29 Sept 2023 https://iclt.info/iclt2023-helsinki |
Conference
| Conference | 13th International Conference on Logistics and Transport 2023 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ICLT2023 |
| Country/Territory | Finland |
| City | Helsinki |
| Period | 27/09/23 → 29/09/23 |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- Global Logistics Hub
- Environmental Sustainability
- Stakeholder Theory
- Case Study
- Europe
- North Africa