Performance measurement system and strategies for developing low-carbon logistics: A case study in China

With increasing global warming and environmental degradation, green and low-carbon development mode has being more and more widely accepted in the world. The lack of performance measure system (PMS) and unknown development strategies in the low-carbon context hinder the development low-carbon logistics in China. Motivated by this, our research investigates some important issues in developing low-carbon logistics. Based on the triple bottom line framework, a general PMS with 42 indicators from 12 dimensions is developed for evaluating the low-carbon logistics by using the method of multiple-case study and literature analysis. Eight representative and leading logistics enterprises from different logistics sub-sectors in the western China are selected as case enterprises. The barriers and strategies for developing low-carbon logistics are then identified based on 6 propositions. The barriers include the lack of low-carbon awareness, the inconsistency and incompleteness in policies and regulations, the scarcity of qualified logistics professionals, the unreasonable infrastructure and facilities, the low efficiency in logistics operations management, and the disordered transport modes. Effective coping strategies are proposed to deal with these barriers from the 6 perspectives based on the case study. We argue that if these strategies can be implemented well, low-carbon logistics can be developed well in China.