Cross-cutting
Last-mile delivery
The final leg of the supply chain, moving goods from a distribution hub to the end customer — the costliest and most emissions-intensive stage per parcel.
Definition
Last-mile delivery is the final stage of the delivery process, in which goods are transported from a distribution centre or local hub to the end recipient, whether a residence, retail outlet or collection point. It is typically the most expensive and carbon-intensive link per unit, concentrated in congested urban environments.
References
Definition, urban challenges, decarbonisation and technology trends
Overview
What it means
E-commerce growth has multiplied small, time-sensitive deliveries, amplifying urban van traffic, congestion, air pollution and CO₂ emissions. Decarbonisation responses include electric vans and cargo bikes, route optimisation with AI, parcel lockers and pick-up points, crowdsourced delivery, urban consolidation centres and delivery-time consolidation; autonomous delivery is an emerging option.
How it is used
The concept anchors urban logistics planning, corporate scope 3 accounting for downstream transport, city low-emission zones, and retailer sustainability strategies for e-commerce fulfilment.
Why it matters
As online retail grows, the last mile is becoming one of the fastest-growing sources of urban transport emissions and a key target for city climate and air-quality policy.
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