Articles
DOI DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18442648

Last-Mile Logistics under E-commerce Growth: Efficiency and Emissions

Mehmet A. Begen1
  1. 1 Western University, Ivey Business School, London, Canada;

Abstract

Background: E-commerce growth has intensified last-mile logistics, a
stage often described as the final leg from a distribution hub to the customer
and frequently cited as a disproportionate share of total delivery cost. This
review evaluates operational strategies that improve efficiency while reducing
emissions, framing the problem as a coupled cost–carbon optimization.
Methods: We synthesize work on last-mile delivery, consolidation, microfulfillment, electrification, and cargo-bike deployment, and propose a
decision framework linking service promises to routing and fleet choices.
Results: Interventions that combine consolidation with low-emission modes can
reduce emissions without sacrificing service, but they require urban infrastructure and
governance of delivery windows and pickup options.
Conclusions: Sustainable last-mile performance is achieved through network design
(where to stock), operational control (how to route), and demand shaping (how customers
choose speed and delivery format).

How to Cite

Begen, M. A. (2026). Last-Mile Logistics under E-commerce Growth: Efficiency and Emissions. Transnational Academic Journal of Economics, 2(2), 165–169. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18442648
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) BibTeX

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