Academia and Green Logistics: who is really driving innovation?
Analysis and reflections on a new study about green logistics and the gap between theory and practice:
In the world of sustainable logistics, the distance between academic research and practical applications is a recurring theme.
INNOVATORS AND TRANSFORMERS: REVISITING THE GAP BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND PRACTICE: INSIGHTS FROM THE GREEN LOGISTICS PHENOMENON
Green logistics: definition and context
Green logistics refers to all practices aimed at reducing the environmental impact of logistics activities: route optimization, electric vehicles, eco-friendly packaging, waste management, etc.
In recent decades, regulatory, social, and environmental pressure has pushed logistics companies to adopt increasingly advanced Green Logistics Practices (GLPs). But has academia managed to keep up?
Research method: comparing theory and practice
The study uses a dual methodological approach to compare the responsiveness of academia and practice to green logistics:
- Systematic literature review: 122 peer-reviewed articles published between the 1990s and 2023.
- Corporate report analysis: 156 sustainability/annual reports from major Logistics Service Providers (LSPs): DHL, DB Schenker, UPS, and FedEx.
Main finding: All green logistics practices analyzed in the literature had already been implemented and documented by companies – in some cases, for years.
Positioning in relation to the literature
The study takes a critical stance toward existing literature, highlighting a systemic delay in academic research.
Academic articles only increased after 2010, and in a discontinuous way. This slowness is attributed to:
- Long times to obtain funding
- Complex recruitment of researchers
- Lengthy peer review process
- More focus on theory than on practice
Green logistics: academia vs practice – summary table
| Element | Academia | Practice (LSPs) |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Theoretical, descriptive | Proactive, operational |
| Timing | Delayed | Reactive and fast |
| Role | Knowledge creation | Implementation and innovation |
| Responsiveness | Low | High |
| Impact | Limited | Significant |
Why is academia falling behind?
The main causes identified by the study:
- Slow and costly research methods
- Bureaucratic processes for funding and ethical approvals
- Academic reviews too slow and conservative
- Focus on publishing rather than on impact
Future challenges / Open questions in green logistics
- Excessive publication delays (average 3–5 years)
- Lack of proactivity and responsiveness to global events
- Poor collaboration between academia and businesses
- Difficulties in transferring knowledge into practice
- Lack of real and measurable impact metrics
How to close the gap: the paper’s proposal
The study proposes a transformative new paradigm based on two approaches:
- Proactive Research: fast, collaborative with companies, action-oriented.
- Reactive Research: rigorous, theoretical, useful to validate proactive insights.
Discussion questions on green logistics
- Is co-creation between academia and business realistic in the short term?
- Are the adopted green practices truly effective or just marketing-driven?
- How can academia be incentivized to measure impact beyond publication?
- Are green start-ups innovating more than university research?
- Do ESG reports reflect real change or just reputational goals?
Conclusion: a call to action
Sustainable logistics needs closer collaboration between research and industry. The study clearly shows that practice has moved ahead, while academia has been left behind.
Knowledge is power, but only when it is applied.
Dale Carnegie
American author, lecturer, and trainer
Recommended Reading
- Innovators and transformers: Revisiting the gap between academia and practice: insights from the green logistics phenomenon
- Baglio, M., Perotti, S., Dallari, F. and Creazza, A. (2022), “How can logistics real estate support third-party logistics providers?”
- Bask, A., Rajahonka, M., Laari, S., Solakivi, T., Töyli, J. and Ojala, L. (2018), “Environmental sustainability in shipper-LSP relationships”
- Bloemhof, J.M., van der Vorst, J.G., Bastl, M. and Allaoui, H. (2015), “Sustainability assessment of food chain logistics”
- Creazza, A., Colicchia, C. and Evangelista, P. (2023), “Leveraging shippers-logistics providers relationships for better sustainability in logistics: the perspective of SMEs”
- Evangelista, P. (2014), “Environmental sustainability practices in the transport and logistics service industry: an exploratory case study investigation”
- Hendriksen, C. (2023), “Artificial intelligence for supply chain management: disruptive innovation or innovative disruption?”
- McKinnon, A., Browne, M., Whiteing, A., & Piecyk, M. (Eds.). (2021). Green logistics: Improving the environmental sustainability of logistics (3rd ed.). Kogan Page.
