Using 530 responses from an online questionnaire, this study aims to investigate the transition from physical to online shopping alternatives during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic at the individual level. The focus areas of the study are Sweden and Italy, two European countries that implemented contrasting prevention measures. This study analyses the impacts of the pandemic on the transition to online shopping activities, and identifies who among the respondents changed their shopping behaviour the most and how; and what the different shopping strategies are and who adopted them. Multivariate statistical analyses, including linear and binary logistic regressions and multinomial logit models, were used to analyse the dataset. In the analysis, the dataset was split between Italy and Sweden to take into account the contrasting prevention measures and the different social and economic backgrounds of the two countries; the results of this study confirm and highlight these differences. Moreover, the socio-demographic and household structures of the respondents were found to influence the amount and the direction of change in shopping behaviour during the first wave of the pandemic. The study also indicates some policies that can be implemented and/or further strengthened to increase the resilience of citizens in facing pandemics and to derive benefit from the behavioural changes that took place during the first wave of the pandemic.

The urban logistics system greatly affects the liveability of the urban environment and the health of citizens through transport-related externalities. Urban logistics practices are being implemented to contribute to the sustainability of the urban environment. To make informed decisions, actors and stakeholders require knowledge about these practices and their impacts. This paper proposes a set of measurable indicators for sustainability assessment. For assessing sustainability, it is key to comprehensively consider sustainability dimensions. Therefore, the starting point of this paper is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to have a holistic view of sustainability, combined with existing indicators in the city logistics literature, to ensure relevance to the context. Moreover, it is important to consider the perspective of different actors and stakeholders. The novelty of this work is the definition of indicators from the perspectives of both the citizens as stakeholders and the logistics service providers as actors. The set of indicators is tested in two previous studies, showing that it is possible to evaluate the sustainability performance of urban logistics practices. Future work includes using the set of indicators in a real case study, to test the attainability and relevance of the indicators. This set of indicators should be used to evaluate urban logistics practices, with the aim of increasing the knowledge that actors in the urban freight transport system have regarding these practices. This knowledge can help decision-makers in the private and public sectors to make decisions that facilitate a more sustainable urban freight transport system. 

The transport-related externalities of the urban logistics system impact the urban environment and the health of the citizens: there is a need to improve the sustainability of the system. In this paper, we use a framework for sustainability performance abessment and a literature review to analyse the urban logistics concepts of electrification, consolidation, cargo bikes and automation. In the literature, there is a focus on pollution, while a holistic perspective on sustainability is lacking. A Sustainability Performance Abessment (SPA) matrix is the main result of this paper, as a tool for comparing the concepts and understanding how they can be combined to achieve integrated benefits. To make informed decisions, stakeholders need knowledge from a holistic perspective. The findings presented in this paper are a first step to achieving this required knowledge.

City logistics faces critical challenges in optimising resource management, utilising time effectively, and reducing costs, particularly in the context of growing environmental concerns. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Off-Peak Hour Deliveries (OPHD) have emerged as promising solutions. Despite considerable research efforts, more research is needed to evaluate the impacts of using BEVs during OPHD. To address this need, this paper describes how data from a case study in Stockholm were used to develop a comprehensive overview of the sustainability impacts of OPHD carried out with BEV. A multi-method approach was applied, including an indicator framework, Life Cycle Costing, and a Social Life Cycle Assessment to consider all sustainability dimensions holistically. Our findings reveal that, while BEVs are not yet cost-competitive with Internal Combustion Engine vehicles for daytime operations, OPHD can mitigate these costs by increasing the vehicle utilisation and distances travelled. Furthermore, OPHD with BEV can offer substantial benefits by increasing accessibility and reducing emissions. However, challenges such as increased employee-related transport costs and infrastructure needs must be addressed. The main contributions of this paper are practical, as we add knowledge about the impacts of OPHD using BEV, and methodological, as we used a multi-method approach to holistically assess sustainability impacts. Future research should focus on long-term impacts and refine assessment methods to support the sustainable development of urban logistics. This study highlights the importance of using holistic sustainability assessment to inform and enable stakeholders and decision-makers to leverage the full potential of OPHD when shifting to more sustainable transport.

The urban logistics system causes negative externalities, such as pollution, noise and congestion. This study focuses on city hubs as a concept to reduce these externalities by improving consolidation and adopting zero-emission vehicles. Our research employs system dynamics as a method to uncover the dynamics and mechanisms related to the barriers and potentials of city hub implementation in Stockholm from the perspectives of the Logistic Service Providers (LSPs), the receivers and the public sector. Moreover, a mixed method approach is used for data collection, allowing us to extract the knowledge from the real implementation case, co-create a qualitative model as a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) with the stakeholders involved in the system, and generalise the model. The mixed method approach includes a group model-building workshop, literature review, existing city hub analysis and stakeholder interviews. The main result is a CLD, visualising the dynamics of the introduction of city hubs. The CLD explores three potential incentives and policies: (i) the receivers change address; (ii) shippers oblige LSPs to use the hubs; (iii) the public sector gives monetary incentives to LSPs. The CLD presented in this paper establishes a validated system structure for the urban logistic system and facilitates the policymakers' understanding of the barriers to implementing city hubs and what policies could help their implementation.

Transport-related externalities have a negative impact on urban environments and public health. There- fore, urban logistic systems encounter significant challenges when it comes to sustainability. One urban transport strategy is city hubs, as these can achieve a more effective system with lower externalities. However, city hubs have yet to realise their full potential due to the challenges of their implementation, which are mainly economical. This paper investigates the dynamics of city hub implementation from the perspectives of the Logistic Service Providers (LSPs), the hub operator and the receivers of the goods. Drawing from qualitative and quantitative insights from a case study in Stockholm, a system dynamics model is built to understand these dynamics. The results of the model demonstrate that the city hub is economically sustainable only if collaboration is achieved between LSPs and receivers. However, even when this collaboration is achieved, the total system cost increases. When collaboration between actors cannot be achieved, the public sector’s involvement is crucial to achieving city hub adoption. The results also show that implementing an environmental zone where internal combustion engine vehicles are forbidden entry does not help the city hub adoption, as the share of the LSPs cost spent on vehicles is relatively low compared to salary cost and fuel cost. Therefore, policies favouring the actors involved in the scheme should be considered. The main contribution of this paper lies in identifying possible strategies and outcomes of city hub implementation within the studied area and providing guidance for policymakers on policies for city hub implementation. Moreover, the model can be adapted to other case studies by adjusting the input data, thereby serving as a tool for policymakers in different geographical contexts.

Through consolidation, city hubs offer potential solutions to sustainability challenges in urbanfreight systems. However, the viability of such hubs has been questioned, as the willingness topay of businesses receiving goods has been an issue. This study employs a system dynamicsapproach to explore this willingness to pay in consolidation initiatives by quantifying thebenefits receivers can gain, thus bridging a gap in the literature. The system dynamics methodallows a holistic view of the system. Therefore, a quantitative model is built to explore thebehaviour of the businesses receiving goods and their interests in value-added services. Datafrom a case study in Stockholm is used as quantitative input. Moreover, sixteen businesses inthe area are interviewed to understand their needs and to create different scenarios. The analysisof the interviews reveals that the level of interest in value-added services varies depending onthe type of business. Four types of receivers are identified: large offices, small offices, largeshops, and small shops. The model results show that the main benefits for the receivers are timesavings in handling deliveries, leading to cost savings and the use of the city hub for storage.The results of this research can be used by decision-makers in the private and public sectors tounderstand the dynamics of city hubs and to formulate effective policies for the success of thesehubs. The originality of this study lies in the combination of the system dynamic approach andthe receivers’ perspective, which is relatively underexplored. The results can thus providevaluable insights in achieving viable consolidation solutions.

This paper explores the system-level impacts of electrification on road freight transport efficiency, as a complex concept with involvement of various stakeholders. Introducing electrification adds further complexity, bringing in new stakeholders, dynamics, and efficiencies. The paper utilises system dynamics modelling to understand the dynamics between different efficiencies and the impact of electrification. The results of the simulation model highlight that there are trade-offs between different kinds of efficiencies, and it is essential to achieve a balance. Moreover, worse-before-better behaviour should be expected, as electrification initially increases costs but has lower costs in the long term. The results point to two phases of E-truck adoption: during the first phase, the policy focus should be on expanding charging infrastructure; during the second phase, cost-focused policies become critical to boosting electrification. By understanding the impact of different policies, this paper offers valuable knowledge to decision-makers navigating the transition towards a more sustainable system.