gas certification schemes and development of common EU standards. With regards to energy use, the use of less and cleaner energy is the most important goal of European transport policy. This can be achieved through modal shift (shift of 50% of long-haul road freight to rail and waterborne transport), green freight corridors, use of alternative energy and cleaner sources, eco-driving and fuel-saving techniques as well as more efficient technologies and supporting administrative measures (e.g., fuel taxes, speed limitations of freight vehicles etc.).
Environmental sustainability of logistics is gaining importance also among shippers and service providers (World Bank, 2012). From a 3PL/company perspective, the most important aspects of environmental sustainability aspects also relate to transport decisions, both because environmental performance of 3PLs is increasingly a contract requirement of customers as well as a means to reduce costs. Energy efficiency (e.g., shifting freight to more fuel-efficient modes, acquiring more fuel-efficient vehicles), emissions, use of alternative fuels and vehicle efficiency (reduction of idling time, freight consolidation) are mentioned by the largest 3PL service providers as steps towards sustainability (Lieb 2010).
Safety / Security
Security in the supply chain is defined as “the application of policies, procedures, and technology to protect supply chain assets (product, facilities, equipment, information, and personnel) from theft, damage, or terrorism and to prevent the introduction or unauthorized contraband, people or weapons of mass destruction into the supply chain” (Closs and McGarrell, 2004). Supply chain safety is defined as “the protection [of supply chain activities] from unintended hazards [and] random events such as natural catastrophes or carelessness and negligence” (Tandler and Essig, 2012). With regards to logistics, security and safety refer to the protection of logistics activities (i.e., freight transport, warehousing / inventory management, order processing) from intended malicious acts and from unintended hazards and random events respectively. Security refers to physical security of freight and logistics infrastructure (e.g., transport network, terminals, freight management infrastructure) and cyber-security for IT systems, networks, data and software of actors participating in logistics activities (e.g., 3PLs, government authorities, terminal operators).
The role of the public sector / government in supply chain security is to develop and endorse processes and standards that, when implemented by all parties concerned, ensure an acceptable level of security of physical (e.g., transport, terminals) and digital infrastructure (e.g., information networks, data exchange) and guarantee the proper operation of transport and logistics infrastructure under normal conditions but also their resilience in the event of an intentional disruption. This is also the focus of the FTLAP in the field of security, i.e., to develop standards for the secure integration of transport modes in the logistic chain (European Commission, 2007a). Thus, logistics security concerns of the public sector relates to preparedness and “prevention from crime, banditry and unlawful intentional acts such as terrorism” (European Commission, 2007a). On the other hand, logistics safety concerns of the public sector relate to issues such as transport mode safety (road, rail, air, maritime), accidents and other negative externalities that threaten the safety of cargo, workforce as well as that of the general population.
For the industry, the focus of logistics security is to ensure alignment and conformance with the national security procedures and standards that guarantee “delivery of a product that is uncompromised by intentional contamination, damage or diversion within the supply chain” (Marucheck et al, 2011), and the associated financial and information flows. Similar are the concerns related to safety, i.e. conformance with safety standards and procedures that minimise potential unintended damages in the handling, transport and stowage of cargo and in the relevant infrastructure, and ensure the safety of the personnel involved in the logistical operations.