Designing Sustainable Last-Mile Delivery Solutions that Minimize Environmental Impact: An Indian Perspective

Abstract

In order to determine the impact of institutional pressures and company resources on the adoption of sustainable delivery practices, a study which consisted of a quantitative survey (n=312) and semi-structured interviews (n=45). Data from six major Indian cities was also used on a longitudinal basis, thus providing a rounded perspective on the issue, by combining different approaches. Key findings show that enforcing initial adoption is crucial for successfully implementing sustainable last-mile deliveries. Normative and mimetic challenges, in either case, center on operations, and are more practical and applicable. Three key findings emerge from this research: that institutional determination, technology determination, and stakeholder determination are all important for practical and operational success. In this way, the study connects the fields of Institutional Theory, The Resource-Based View and sustainable logistics for developing countries. Furthermore, it brings a new paradigm supported by the most recent evidence for managing sustainable operations, advancing theory and practice.