Reducing transportation emissions: Company intentions, barriers and discriminating factors

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the intention of companies to reduce transportation emissions by 2020 and the barriers and the discriminating factors that affect the reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review identified potential logistical and technical actions and their barriers, and discriminating factors for reducing transportation emissions. A survey of freight transport-intensive industries in Sweden examined the effects of, intention for implementation of and barriers to 12 actions to reduce CO₂ emissions from freight transportation. In total, 172 logistics managers responded, representing a response rate of 40.3 per cent.

Findings

Logistics service providers (LSPs) and freight owners are likely to reduce a considerable amount of CO₂ emissions from freight transportation by 2020 using a combination of actions. The lowest level of confidence was for reducing CO₂ emissions by changing logistics structures, while there was greater confidence by means of operational changes. The actions have few barriers, but there is often a combination of barriers to overcome. Three discriminating factors influence the intention of a firm to reduce transportation emissions: perceived potential, company size and LSP/freight owner. The industrial sector of a freight owner has minor influence. Companies that are particularly likely to reduce emissions are LSPs, large companies, and those that perceive a large reduction potential.

Research limitations/implications

Logistical and technical barriers appear to hinder companies from implementing actions, while organisational barriers and external prerequisites do not. Barriers cannot be used to predict companies’ intentions to reduce transportation emissions. The authors examined the impact of three discriminating factors on reduction of transportation emissions. The research is based on perceptions of well-informed managers and on companies in Sweden.

Practical implications

The findings can be used by managers to identify firms for benchmarking initiatives and emissions-reducing strategies.

Originality/value

The study provides insights into intended CO₂ reductions in transportation by 2020. It presents new knowledge regarding barriers and discriminating factors for implementing actions to reduce transportation emissions.

Citation

Pålsson, H. and Johansson, O. (2016), "Reducing transportation emissions: Company intentions, barriers and discriminating factors", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 674-703. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-03-2014-0025