DECABOMILE

The main objective of DECARBOMILE is to develop tailored solutions and demonstrate the full potential of decarbonised last-mile logistics in 4 living labs in line with technical, environmental and local socio-economic contexts.

Logistics is the backbone of society and companies appear to be operating their supply chains very efficiently within the constraints of their own operation. However, there is clearly a problem with transport efficiency in Europe because EU statistics show that vehicles are filled on average to only 57% of their weight capacity, and 27% of vehicles are running empty. This results in an overall efficiency factor of 43%; if it were possible to increase this factor to 70% it would result in a saving of over €160 billion. To achieve these aims, significant changes are needed in supply chain operations, especially on the last mile logistics chain. This lack of efficiency doesn’t affect only the economics of logistics, but also its externalities on the urban tissue, last mile logistics representing 30% of the total

emissions of logistics transportation. Indeed in 2020, the European Union committed to European Green Deal, a set of ambitious targets on the road to turning Europe to a carbon neutral continent by 20502. Amongst them are several with deep impact on urban logistics: 55% reduction of emissions from cars by 2030, 50% reduction of emissions from vans by 2030. In additional, on a local level there is an increasing push for zero-emission zones in inner cities. 26 of the world’s largest cities signed up to the Green and Healthy streets pledge.