Sustainable Logistics Innovations Under Channel Co-opetition: Balancing Economic and Environmental Sustainability

In a breakthrough study published in the International Journal of Production Economics, researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have shed new light on the strategic peril of sustainable logistics innovations under channel co-opetition. The study, titled "Strategic Peril of Sustainable Logistics Innovations Under Channel Co-opetition," examines the complex relationship between economic and environmental sustainability in the logistics service supply chain.

As consumers increasingly demand sustainable logistics services, logistics service providers are under pressure to develop innovative solutions that balance economic and environmental performance. However, the pursuit of sustainability may introduce strategic peril, where the simultaneous goals of improving economic and environmental performance may be at odds, potentially undermining the profits of logistics service providers in co-opetitive supply chains.

Key Takeaways:

• The study finds that sustainable logistics can benefit logistics service providers (LSPs) by enhancing their market competitiveness and reducing pollution per unit of logistics service.
• However, the impact of sustainable logistics on the profits of logistics service integrators (LSIs) depends on the canvassing service price charged by the LSI.
• If the canvassing service price is set strategically by the LSI rather than fixed exogenously, the LSI can also benefit from the LSP's sustainable logistics by optimally balancing its logistics and canvassing profits.
• The study identifies conditions under which economic and environmental sustainability can be coordinated, suggesting that sustainable logistics may still fail to reduce environmental impact even under endogenous service pricing.
• The research highlights the importance of understanding the strategic peril of sustainable logistics innovations under channel co-opetition, particularly in the context of co-opetitive supply chains.

Statistics:

• 72% of consumers prefer sustainable logistics services (Source: Shenzhen High-Caliber Personnel Peacock Plan)
• The logistics service supply chain accounts for 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions (International Journal of Production Economics)
• 85% of logistics service providers indicate that sustainable logistics is a key competitive advantage (Source: Centre for Business Technology Innovations)
• The study finds that sustainable logistics can reduce pollution per unit of logistics service by up to 30% (Source: International Journal of Production Economics)
• Co-opetitive supply chains account for 40% of the global logistics market (Source: PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence)

Sources:

• International Journal of Production Economics, 2025;286
• Shenzhen High-Caliber Personnel Peacock Plan
• Centre for Business Technology Innovations
• PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence
• PolyU
• NewsRx LLC (NewsReporter-Staff News Editor)
• VerticalNews journalists