1. Sustainable logistics management,
a business model approach
Maria Björklund
Logistics Management
Department of Management and Engineering
Linköping University

2. Sustainable logistics management, a business model approach
Results from two research project:
1. A roadmap to socially responsible supply chains
2006-2009
Financed by Vinnova
2. Competitive business models to meet future demands on
sustainable logistics systems
2008-2011
Financed by Vinnova
Research team: Mats Abrahamsson, Maria Huge Brodin, Maria
Björklund, Cristina Maack, Uni Martinsen, Karin Isaksson
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3. Sustainable logistics management, a business model approach
Sustainable Development
Government Business Civil Society
CSR
People Planet Profit
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4. Sustainable logistics management, a business model approach
Economy has always been the main driver in logistics research.
In recent years the environmental dimension has also been focused.
The social dimension is only covered to a very limited extent.
Journals Marketing Accounting Production Puchasing SCM Logistics Transport CSR Ethics
CSR* 175 180 42 21 3 1 2 - -
Logictics** - - - - - - - 9 19
*One major journal within CSR (Journal of Business Ethics)
**Six major logistic journals (IJPDLM, JBL, IJLM, TJ, IJPMM, JSCM)
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5. 1. A roadmap to socially responsible supply chains
CSR aspects studied
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6. 1. A roadmap to socially responsible supply chains
Main method:
Survey study
Logistics responsibility
Large companies in Sweden
Responses 103 of 450
Some findings:
1. Most CSR-aspects are of relevance in a logistics setting
2. Most logistics change influences the companies’ CSR.
3. Differences can be found regarding which parts of the supply chain that
are targeted and CSR strategies applied.
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7. 1. A roadmap to socially responsible supply chains
Economy
5,0
4,5
4,0
3,5
3,0
2,5 relevance
influence
2,0
1,5
1,0
0,5
0,0
costs income binding capital market
presence
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8. 1. A roadmap to socially responsible supply chains
Human rights
4,0
3,5
3,0
2,5
2,0 relevance
influence
1,5
1,0
0,5
0,0
purchasing discrimination child labor forced labor
routines 8

9. 1. A roadmap to socially responsible supply chains
Labor rights
Logistics change:
Capacity Employment
of facilities
Labor/management
relations
Number
of facilities
Health and safety
Training and
education
Supplier and
customer network
Diversity and
equal opportunity 9

10. 1. A roadmap to socially responsible supply chains
Supplier Customer
Supplier Company Customer
Supplier Customer
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11. 2. Competitive business models to meet future demands on sustainable
logistics systems
A business model approach
A well designed business model…
can support a company in reaching its sustainability targets.
provides guidance of how a company should work to reach its strategic
goals.
Offering
- Value Proposition
- Revenue mechanisms
(Norman & Ramirez)
Market
Position
-Target market Operative
- Competitive strategy Platform
- Value network
-Value chain
(Porter I/O)
structure
(RBV)
[Kindström, 2005] 11

12. 2. Competitive business models to meet future demands on sustainable logistics systems
Methods this far
Think tanks
Literature reviews
Case study
Some findings:
1. Difficulties in estimating the environmental impact from logistics.
2. System limitations can influence both the environmental results and
possibilities for action.
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13. 2. Competitive business models to meet future demands on sustainable logistics systems
Environmental performance measurement in logistics:
Consider external stakeholders (e.g. government)
Well defined goal and system limitations
Link measurements between different managerial levels
Lack in horizontal integration
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14. 2. Competitive business models to meet future demands on sustainable logistics systems
System 2008
Returpack
Brewery Wholesaler Store End
consumer
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15. 2. Competitive business models to meet future demands on sustainable logistics systems
System 2010?
Returpack Storage
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16. 2. Competitive business models to meet future demands on sustainable logistics systems
System 2010?
Returpack Storage
Terminal
train
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17. 2. Competitive business models to meet future demands on sustainable logistics systems
Storage
Returpack
100%
Total costs
CO2 outlets
Sc 1 Sc 2 Sc 3 Sc 4
Clarifications: 2008 is used as a baseline (100%). Total costs includes costs for
transportation, storage, packages and handling.
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