CodeZERO, co-design e-commerce last-mile delivery

CO-design of e-commerce last-mile DElivery and return options with ZERO emissions

CodeZERO is a Horizon Europe research project coordinated by TRT whose objective is to investigate and develop innovative and sustainable zero-emission solutions for last-mile e-commerce deliveries and return options by integrating the perspectives of all various stakeholders.

Doing so, CodeZERO can propose a new possible equilibrium in e-commerce where negative impacts from the environmental, economic, and societal side can be reduced.

In addressing the question of more sustainable delivery solutions, CodeZERO will not only embrace the reduction of greenhouse gas and pollutants’ emissions from e-commerce deliveries but will also focus on other types of negative impacts such as those on safety, occupancy of public space as well as on delivery costs and working conditions of transport companies’ employees. Attention will be also given to understanding how alternative sustainable solutions might promote diversity, equality, and inclusion and integrate them within the EU transport sector.

CodeZERO adopts an interdisciplinary approach combining both desk and field research as well as quantitative and qualitative analysis, following four phases:

1. Analysis phase: understand current delivery options, stakeholder needs and constraints, and environmental impacts;
2. Design phase: Develop consumer awareness campaigns, mechanisms to encourage sustainable choices, and a range of sustainable delivery/return options. Additionally, create a toolset for local authorities to accelerate adoption;
3. Test phase: Pilot test the designed solutions and awareness guidelines in four European cities: Milan (IT), Utrecht (NL), Antwerp (BE), and Oslo (NO);
4. Consolidation phase: Refine communication guidelines and delivery/return options based on pilot data. Develop an interactive tool for stakeholders to analyse the impact of adopting CodeZERO solutions