Understanding GREEN-LOG
GREEN-LOG – Cooperative and Interconnected Green delivery solutions towards an era of optimized zero emission last-mile Logistics – is a Horizon Europe project that began on 1 January 2023 and will run until 30 June 2026. Coordinated by Netcompany-Intrasoft, GREEN-LOG unites 30 partners from across Europe to revolutionise city logistics with a focus on economic, environmental, and social sustainability.
The project introduces innovative solutions such as Logistics-as-a-Service (LaaS) platforms for interconnected urban logistics, automated delivery concepts using autonomous vehicles and droids, cargo-bike-based innovations for sustainable micro-consolidation, and multimodal parcel deliveries integrating public transportation. These advancements are powered by networked city logistics dataspaces that deliver dynamic services for ecosystem optimisation while respecting the interests of stakeholders including consumers, businesses, and the city.
GREEN-LOG approach is being tested in five Urban Living Labs – Athens (Greece), Barcelona (Spain), Flanders (Belgium), Oxfordshire (UK), and Ispra (Italy). These Living Labs represent a diverse range of European urban logistics landscapes and challenges and act as city platforms for co-designing, testing, and refining last-mile delivery innovations. They also nurture social innovation and deeper understanding of user needs, habits, and preferences.
Additionally, the project involves three follower cities experiencing rapid economic and social change – Arad (Romania), Helsingborg (Sweden), and Valga (Estonia) – that will test the transferability of GREEN-LOG’s innovations.
Key Activities
FROM CO-CREATING Blueprints for Sustainable Last-Mile Solutions to deployment of the First VERSION OF THE INTEGRATED PLATFORMS, Tools and Services
The journey began with an analysis of urban contexts and mobility patterns across GREEN-LOG cities and areas. This process identified key factors influencing urban freight and service demands, including city layout, population density, infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and technological readiness.
Using a co-creative and collaborative approach that brought together local governments, research institutions, and logistics professionals, the project developed practical and scalable logistics solutions tailored to each city’s unique needs. By integrating developing technologies with the habits and experiences of Living Lab stakeholders, the project fostered innovations that align with the needs and expectations of diverse groups.
Ongoing collaboration between technology developers, social scientists, and local stakeholders during the early stages of the Living Lab’s scoping and design ensured alignment of perspectives and a balanced consideration of technical feasibility, user experience, and social impact.
These efforts culminated in comprehensive blueprints detailing innovations to be integrated and deployed in each demonstration case, promoting environmental sustainability and enhancing urban living standards.
Innovative Delivery Methods and Deployment
In the first half of its journey, GREEN-LOG unveiled an alpha version of its innovative tools and platforms set to redefine last-mile delivery optimisation. This initial rollout introduced several groundbreaking developments, including:
- The GREEN-LOG data space for managing project and Living Lab data;
- AI-powered algorithms capable of predicting logistics demand across diverse scenarios;
- Optimisation models for scheduling daily deliveries through Micro-Consolidation Centres (MCCs);
- Simulation platforms for evaluating long-term planning and what-if scenarios;
- Augmented Intelligence Modelling Platform combining demand prediction, route optimisation, and iterative learning.
These innovations aim to tackle urban challenges, cutting congestion, curbing exhaust emissions, and streamlining response times— significantly enhancing the sustainability of last-mile delivery.
Real-Time and Connected Services
The ever-evolving challenges of last-mile logistics, exacerbated by real-time disruptions, call for innovative solutions. In this vein, GREEN-LOG has introduced cutting-edge services, platforms and a user-friendly interface to harmonise the needs of logistics providers, clients, and local authorities. By leveraging a dynamic pricing framework and innovative nudging mechanisms, GREEN-LOG rewards clients with credits while equipping logistics providers with tools to enhance operational efficiency.
At the heart of GREEN-LOG’s advanced approach are:
- GREEN-LOG Logistics-as-a-Service (LaaS) Marketplace;
- A versatile collection of Software Development Kits (SDKs) integrated into Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) systems for on-line real-time tracking;
- Nowcasting and forecasting services to predict near-now and short-term transport demand and traffic patterns;
- A reactive routing toolset that optimises transport requests, reducing travel time;
- Digital Control Tower – a centralised, data-driven platform designed to transform last-mile logistics operations.
The first version of GREEN-LOG’s innovative platforms, services and tools has been successfully delivered and is now undergoing testing within the Living Labs, paving the way for a more resilient and efficient future in urban logistics.
Living Labs Demonstrations
The first round of trials in all five Living Labs began in Q4 2024 in a controlled environment, involving consortium partners and external stakeholders. After these trials, an evaluation will refine the solutions for the final round of real-life testing.
The outcomes of these trials will be assessed for their economic, environmental, and social impacts, setting the stage for broader adoption.
For more detailed information on these developments, please visit the GREEN-LOG project website, where project deliverables will be available after approval by the European Commission.
“In GREEN-LOG, we are committed to transforming last-mile delivery in Europe by embracing economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable logistics practices. Through our inclusive and collaborative Urban Living Labs, we strive to foster social innovation and design and implement cutting-edge delivery solutions.” Amalia Ntemou, Project Manager, GREEN-LOG Coordination Team, Netcompany-Intrasoft.
More information
Website: https://greenlog-project.eu/
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