Best practices for implementing sustainable urban logistics – the case of freight consolidation for a Berlin industrial area

Urban logistics has experienced significant transformations since the 1990s, driven by digitization, evolving consumer preferences, and increased environmental awareness. This evolution has opened up opportunities for sustainable logistics practices in urban areas, aiming to optimize transportation while positively impacting urban sustainability. While urban logistics is commonly associated with parcel delivery to individual consumers due to the rise of e-commerce, it also encompasses deliveries to other receivers like retail stores, gastronomy, or urban industrial areas. However, current research has not yet focused on sustainable delivery to urban industrial areas, even if they differ from other receivers, as they are mainly manufacturers receiving time-critical, perishable, or bulky goods for production with unique logistics requirements. Therefore, this paper outlines best practices for implementing a sustainable delivery consolidation system in urban industrial areas. The findings are based on practical insights from supporting a consolidated delivery system implementation in a Berlin industrial area in 2023/2024. As a result, we derive best practices related to an urban logistics implementation project, which are classified in the following steps: stakeholder management and engagement, urban logistics system design (e.g., processes, business model), implementation planning, and monitoring and evaluation. Our findings can support city planners and logistics managers in realizing the impact of sustainable urban logistics in the case of urban industrial areas.