Develop Sustainable Urban Freight - collaboration is key success factor!

Keynote speaker Brigit Hendricks, from Eco2City in the Netherlands, opened the meeting. She shared her learnings gained from practical experience with the aim to make urban freight more sustainable by exploring and implementing Cityhubs. Brigit highlighted the importance of securing the cooperation with the shippers to achieve change as well as the power in public procurement and collaboration.

Her presentation was followed by four in-depth presentations based on research results and case studies. The speakers illustrated different perspectives of what can be achieved in terms of enhancing and promoting sustainable urban freight. (Photo above on the speakers).

The webinar was concluded with an engaging panel discussion with professors and freight experts. Holistic perspectives to detailed questions on potential improvements and key success factors were addressed. The panel was moderated by Dr Peter Georén, KTH, and Birgit Hendriks - CEO and co-founder of Eco2city, Henrik Gillström - Assistant university lecturer, Magnus Blinge - Senior researcher, Michael Browne - Professor of logistics and urban freight transport and Patrick Hirsch, Associated Professor of Institute of Production and Logistics at University of Vienna participated in the panel. 

Peter Géoren commented on the panel discussion: 

- Again, the importance of having shippers on-board in the process was raised. It was also highlighted that shipping terms in sales agreements, so called incoterms, are key to have in place. As long as they stay “delivery to customer free of charge” with no option for the buyer, little change is believed to happen. To drive change, new incoterms and new shipping options made available to buyers would help.