Innovative Logistics Services and Sustainable Lifestyles ― Interdependencies, Transformation Strategies and Decision Making

This edited volume aims to describe the transformation of supply chain management (SCM) and logistics services by merging sustainable logistics, SCM, sustainable consumption and lifestyle research. This assessment of the transformation potential serves the development of sustainable business models and optimized decision-making systems for achieving sustainable economic value creation within a green economy. In 5 sections, the volume takes a unique transdisciplinary approach to assess sustainable business practices within SCM and the logistics sector, and to understand the interactions between logistics services and consumer lifestyles while creating transparency within the decision making process. This book will be of particular interest to academics, policymakers, planners, and politicians.

Section 1 introduces readers to the importance of blended research and innovation between sustainable SCM and consumer lifestyles for transformation towards a green economy. Section 2 addresses the question of how trends and developments in consumption behavior and lifestyles influence the development of sustainable logistics. Section 3 discusses the transformation potential towards sustainable logistics using the food sector as an example. Section 4 focuses on strategic decision making in SCM, and how long-term improvements of sustainability performance can be achieved. Section 5 concludes with policy recommendations as well as research and innovation perspectives for future sustainable development with SCM and logistics.

Ani Melkonyan is Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), Executive Board Member of the University’s Centre for Logistics and Traffic (ZLV) and senior lecturer for the international master program on urban systems (Sustainable Urban Development/ Urban Culture, Society and Space).

From 2015 – 2018 she was coordinating the research project ILoNa (“Innovative Logistics for Sustainable Lifestyles”), funded by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education, Germany. Amongst other aspects, within the project she developed and assessed sustainability potentials in food supply chains with business partners. Further projects, she is involved in, are the accompanying research of the European Green Capital 2017 and NEMO (“New Mobility Concepts along Emscher”), funded by the Mercator Foundation.

Ani Melkonyan has completed her “habilitation” (Venia Legendi) in Environmental Sciences about the climate change influences on the agricultural sector in developing countries. She also holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences from the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her Master Thesis was on mathematical modeling in Macro- and Micro-economy, which she completed at the Yerevan State University, Faculty of Economics. In her research on sustainable development, Ani Melkonyan unites ecological and economic domains as well as quantitative and qualitative methods. She is an author of more than twenty scientific publications.

Klaus Krumme is Executive Director of the Center for Logistics and Traffic (ZLV) at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) and Board Member of the University’s Joint Center Urban Systems (JUS). In addition, he is Co-Chairman of DIALOGistik, a leading science-business platform focusing on sustainable business and innovation management in logistics in the Ruhr area, Germany.

Responsible for the guiding strategy of “logistics design competence” in Europe's largest logistics R&I cluster ("Efficiency Cluster Logistics Ruhr", winner of Germany’s leading-edge cluster competition 2010-2015) and the European Union Regions of Knowledge “Log4Green” project (2011 – 2014) he contributed to a strategic interdisciplinary research agenda for sustainable logistics and initiated blended strategies between sustainable consumption and supply chain management, which were fundamental for the project ILoNa and for the presented book.

Klaus Krumme is an interdisciplinary scholar, graduated in Environmental Sciences as well as in Geography, Biology and Educational Science. He is Assistant Professor of Sustainability Science for the International Master Program on Urban Systems (Sustainable Urban Development / Urban Culture, Society and Space). His work concentrates on transdisciplinary sustainability strategies with a focus on resilient urban and regional systems as well as the transformational potential of logistics and supply chain management in domains of the green economy.