From caveats to catalyst: Accelerating urban freight transport sustainability through public initiatives

Urban freight transport is necessary to let urban spaces thrive, but also negatively impacts livability by causing emissions, harming safety, and occupying public space. Public organizations are responsible for a substantial share of vehicle movements in cities because of the transport of goods and services they procure. Prior research suggests demand-related initiatives by public organizations can potentially accelerate the transition towards sustainable urban freight transport. However, little is known about the outcomes of such initiatives, particularly about how suppliers perceive and respond to them. This thesis explores how public organizations can drive their suppliers to adopt more sustainable urban freight transport practices, and how the processes of key actors in the transport network are affected. Based on three empirical studies relying on numerous interviews, documents, and meetings, this thesis provides insights into two public demand-related initiatives: the use of sustainable public procurement and the introduction of urban consolidation centers.
We find that public organizations use various specifications in tenders, some of which accelerate urban freight transport sustainability. However, tensions between conflicting objectives and a lack of alignment within the public organization first need to be addressed to reach sustainable outcomes. Our findings further emphasize the large number of suppliers, the many receivers of each of those suppliers, and the typically long-term contracts of suppliers and transport providers. Public organizations need to carefully consider how the demands they put on their suppliers affect the broader transport system, to speed up the transition towards sustainable urban freight transport.