Quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions of local collection-and-delivery points for last-mile deliveries

Abstract

There are increasing concerns regarding the impacts of failed first-time home deliveries on road transport and the environment, due to potentially additional vehicle trips for both carriers and consumers. Local collection-and-delivery points (CDPs) where consumers can collect their failed home deliveries have emerged as a viable solution (ByBox 2011). Using two databases of households from across Winchester and West Sussex (UK), and responses from nine major carriers, this paper quantifies GHG emissions on carrier and consumer trips related to the conventional delivery method where the carrier makes re-delivery attempts when a delivery fails, and appraises the environmental benefits of using CDP networks for handling delivery failures.

The results suggested that the majority of GHG emissions associated with handling failed home deliveries are generated by the carrier. The share of GHG emissions generated from consumers increases as the proportion of failed first-time home deliveries increases. A range of CDPs (supermarkets, railway stations and post offices) were all found to reduce the environmental impacts of failed home deliveries. A CDP network would reduce the overall GHG emissions most effectively when: 1) 30% or more householders who experienced a failed first-time home delivery travel to the carrier’s depot to retrieve goods; 2) The proportion of failed first-time home deliveries is significant; 3) ‘Local Collect’ post offices are used as CDPs. The study also has practical and managerial implications for retailers and carriers on how to improve home delivery services by identifying consumer home shopping behaviours and promoting more convenient and environmental-friendly delivery strategies.

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ORCID for T.J. Cherrett: orcid.org/0000-0003-0394-5459

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