Third-party courier, express and parcel (CEP) services are an “indispensable” part of sustainablecity logistics and “vibrant” inner cities, and particularly essential for smaller local stores with
an area of up to 500 sqm, according to a ‘Sustainable City Logistics’ study by the German Parcel& Express Logistics association (BIEK).Conducted in cooperation with the Technical University of Nuremberg, it looked at sustainablecity logistics via courier, express and parcel services, examining the drivers, objectives, andconcepts behind sustainable city logistics from the perspective of trade, local government and CEPservice providers – and quantified the current environmental impact of the ‘last mile’.
According to Florian Gerster, Chairman of BIEK, CEP services ensure “vibrant” inner cities. “For retail and online trade, the CEP services are as important as public transport is for citydwellers. They preserve the environment, save costs, time and effort. Parcel and express serviceproviders combine deliveries and thus avoid traffic. Nearly 100 per cent of items are deliveredsuccessfully at first attempt.”
Ralf Bogdanski, the author of the study and professor at the Technical University ofNuremberg, said: “Especially small shops and tradesmen depend on courier, parcels and expressservices when it comes to delivery. Stores with an area up to 500 sqm are particularly affected,with 85 per cent using third-party CEP delivery companies for more than 50 per cent of theirdeliveries, while online trade would have no commercial basis without the CEP market.
“The goals of municipalities, CEP service providers, and trade are coherent: this is aprerequisite for sustainable city logistics. The portfolio of the service providers favours, inparticular, small inner-city businesses thus contributing to the diversity of city centres,”Bogdanski added.
The study further shows that the German municipalities count CEP services as basic servicesof the city that are indispensable. However, BIEK sees a need for better conditions with regard toroad traffic regulations and also “electro mobility”.
“Sustainable working has always been natural for the member companies of the German Parcel& Express Logistics association. They use modern delivery fleets and are open for alternativedriving concepts. But we also need more support on the part of municipal politics in the form ofappropriate framework conditions,” Gerster said.
Founded in 1982, BIEK comprises the leading providers of courier, express and parcel servicesin Germany including UPS, TNT, DPD, Hermes and GO!. The sector generates combined revenues of morethan €16 billion.
