Buoyed by the boom in home deliveries, the urban logistics markets will grow by 8% per year over the next decade. That’s according to a new study by FM Logistic and the consultancy firm Roland Berger.

The research found road freight accounts for one fifth of urban traffic and 30% of CO2 emissions in cities and says “the rise in e-commerce, compounded by the fragmented nature of the logistics industry and the high proportion (up to 30 %) of failed first-time deliveries, pose sustainability issues.” It concludes that greater cooperation is needed between logistics companies, IT providers and local authorities to bring about a more optimal movement of goods to and within cities.

13 countries were analysed in the report, which showed 10% of city-dwellers receive one parcel a day. In France, 37% use home food delivery services, rising to 60% in Paris. Among the measures suggested to improve logistics efficiency are establishing common standards for package dimensions, sharing warehousing and transportation resources between organisations and using bus lanes to move goods by night.

Entitled Urban logistics faced with economic and environmental challenges, the study also cites the need for investment in new technologies regarding the collection and sharing of data for more precise route planning;  greater warehouse automation and eco-efficient transport (electric, gas, or hydrogen vehicles).

It goes on to acknowledge a number of projects initiated worldwide to optimise the flow of goods and information in cities: a UK company piloting the use of capsules to move freight underground in Southampton; a logistics provider and real estate agent partnering to mount temporary logistics centres in vacant urban buildings in France  and “The logistics hotel”, a multi-storey warehouse in the North of Paris, with a railway terminal that helps reduce the use of road vehicles.

The study can be downloaded here: https://www.fmlogistic.com/eng-gb/Media/News/New-study-by-Roland-Berger-and-FM-Logistic-calls-for-more-cooperation-to-tackle-urban-logistics-challenges