Analyzing the Promoting Factors for Adopting Green Logistics Practices: A Case Study of Road Freight Industry in Nanjing, China

Corporate Environment Management (CEM) is one of the most critical areas for encouraging truck fleets to adopt the green logistics activities under the serious situation of energy security and emission pressures. However, CEM has not been widely adopted in the road freight transportation industry in China yet. This paper describes green logistics practices in China and identifies factors which will have significant effect on the adoption of green logistics in truck fleets. A research framework was developed based on the theory of institutional economics, which was used to describe concept relationships between the driving factors and green logistics practices of truck fleets. A questionnaire survey was conducted in road freight transportation industry in Nanjing, China. A structural equation model was then developed to illustrate concept relationships using factor analysis. The main driving factors identified included an environmental management strategy, mandatory and normative and supply chain pressure. The current green logistics activities of truck fleets identified related to the logistics environment management, green storage and packaging, green transportation, fleet management, alternative fuel implementation and logistics innovation. These findings will aid the adoption of green logistics in the road freight transportation industry in China.