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E-groceries: Sustainable last mile distribution in city planning

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  • Bjørgen, Astrid
  • Bjerkan, Kristin Ystmark
  • Hjelkrem, Odd Andre

Abstract

E-grocery is developing into a frequent and prominent form of online shopping. While some empirical studies suggest that online shopping substitutes personal shopping travel, others indicate a limited or no impact on number of trips and travel distance. Mobility for passengers and freight is one of the key issues in integrated planning in urban areas, and the growth of e-commerce and home deliveries is likely to affect the structure and performance of the urban freight chain. This study explores the use of home delivery services through a survey among Norwegian users of services connected to food and groceries. The study draws on insight from the survey to discuss how city municipalities can integrate trends of urbanisation and digitalisation into planning for sustainable mobility and efficient urban freight transport. A prominent finding is that home delivery of food and groceries is associated with fewer trips to physical grocery stores and reduced car use on these trips. In considering implications for city planning, several strategies and potential instruments are presented and discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Bjørgen, Astrid & Bjerkan, Kristin Ystmark & Hjelkrem, Odd Andre, 2021. "E-groceries: Sustainable last mile distribution in city planning," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:87:y:2021:i:c:s0739885919303294
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2019.100805
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Arvind Shroff & Satish Kumar & Luisa M. Martinez & Nitesh Pandey, 2024. "From clicks to consequences: a multi-method review of online grocery shopping," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 925-964, June.
    2. Ystmark Bjerkan, Kristin & Babri, Sahar, 2024. "Transitioning e-commerce: Perceived pathways for the Norwegian urban freight sector," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    3. Waßmuth, Katrin & Köhler, Charlotte & Agatz, Niels & Fleischmann, Moritz, 2023. "Demand management for attended home delivery—A literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 311(3), pages 801-815.
    4. Dany Vyt & Magali Jara & Olivier Mevel & Thierry Morvan & Nélida Morvan, 2022. "The impact of convenience in a click and collect retail setting: A consumer-based approach," Post-Print halshs-03624658, HAL.
    5. Yu, Vincent F. & Aloina, Grace & Eccarius, Timo, 2023. "Adoption intentions of home-refill delivery service for fast-moving consumer goods," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    6. Prencipe, Luigi Pio & Colovic, Aleksandra & Binetti, Mario & Ottomanelli, Michele, 2024. "Zero-emission vehicle adoption towards sustainable e-grocery last-mile delivery," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    7. Valentas Gruzauskas & Aurelija Burinskiene & Andrius Krisciunas, 2023. "Application of Information-Sharing for Resilient and Sustainable Food Delivery in Last-Mile Logistics," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, January.
    8. Vyt, Dany & Jara, Magali & Mevel, Olivier & Morvan, Thierry & Morvan, Nélida, 2022. "The impact of convenience in a click and collect retail setting: A consumer-based approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    e-groceries; Home delivery; Sustainability; Travel behaviour; Policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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