Article: Assessing the environmental impact of logistics in online and offline B2C purchasing processes in the apparel industry Journal: International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management (IJLSM) 2016 Vol.23 No.1 pp.98 - 124 Abstract: This paper presents an activity-based model for the assessment of the environmental impact of the purchasing process in the apparel industry, comparing traditional in-store and B2C e-commerce channels with a focus on logistics activities. Interviews with company managers and secondary sources were used to develop and validate the model. A base case was selected and a sensitivity analysis was carried out. The impact of logistics is generally very high in both the online and offline purchasing processes (i.e., 99% and 62% of total CO<SUB align="right"><SMALL>2e</SMALL></SUB> emissions respectively). In the online case, the location of the consumer house (i.e., inside or outside the city centre) is the parameter with the greatest environmental impact, whereas in the offline case the distance between the consumer house and the store was the most significant factor. From a managerial viewpoint, the model helps practitioners understand the environmental consequences of their business and supports internal monitoring procedures. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Assessing the environmental impact of logistics in online and offline B2C purchasing processes in the apparel industry

Authors: Riccardo Mangiaracina; Alessandro Perego; Sara Perotti; Angela Tumino

Addresses: Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini 4/B, 20156 Milano, Italy ' Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini 4/B, 20156 Milano, Italy ' Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini 4/B, 20156 Milano, Italy ' Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini 4/B, 20156 Milano, Italy

Abstract: This paper presents an activity-based model for the assessment of the environmental impact of the purchasing process in the apparel industry, comparing traditional in-store and B2C e-commerce channels with a focus on logistics activities. Interviews with company managers and secondary sources were used to develop and validate the model. A base case was selected and a sensitivity analysis was carried out. The impact of logistics is generally very high in both the online and offline purchasing processes (i.e., 99% and 62% of total CO_2e emissions respectively). In the online case, the location of the consumer house (i.e., inside or outside the city centre) is the parameter with the greatest environmental impact, whereas in the offline case the distance between the consumer house and the store was the most significant factor. From a managerial viewpoint, the model helps practitioners understand the environmental consequences of their business and supports internal monitoring procedures.

Keywords: logistics; environmental sustainability; quantitative modelling; B2C e-commerce; business-to-consumer; electronic commerce; environmental impact; B2C purchasing; apparel industry; clothing industry; garment industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2016.073300

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2016 Vol.23 No.1, pp.98 - 124

Received: 26 Apr 2014
Accepted: 20 Sep 2014
Published online: 30 Nov 2015 *

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Title: Assessing the environmental impact of logistics in online and offline B2C purchasing processes in the apparel industry

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