Green logistics and supply chain management enables a firm to attain its economic targets, minimise environmental hazards, reduce its harmful environmental effects, and enhance the ecological efficiency of the firm and its partners across the supply chain. The unit provides students a comprehensive view of the subject that illustrates the environmental impacts of logistics and the actions that companies can take to deal with them. The unit exposes students to various ways in which freight transport adversely affects the environment, how the impact can be measured and environmental standards can be imposed. In particular, the focus will be on key topics like carbon auditing of supply chains; transferring freight to greener transport modes; reducing the environmental impact of warehousing; improving the energy efficiency of freight transport; making city logistics more environmentally sustainable; and role of government in promoting sustainable logistics. 

The unit takes a strategic perspective of the logistics where students will appreciate the role of environmental metrics in design of freight transport network, location of nodes, choice of transport mode and creation of carbon-neutral warehousing. With the popularity of smart city, the unit covers the establishment of urban consolidation centres and environmental zone that can improve the sustainability of last mile delivery into cities. The unit updates students with the recent development on green logistics such as distribution by drone, 3D printing, physical Internet and concept of "peak freight" that have the potential to reduce the impact of logistics on environment.

Unit details

Location:
City Flinders
Remote
Study level:
Postgraduate
Credit points:
12
Unit code:
BMO5579

Get help

Find a different unit

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. Critically review social, ethical and environmental issues within logistics and supply chain management;  
  2. Critically reflect on contemporary literature and established supply chain models and theories in relation to green logistics strategies; and  
  3. Investigate current business practises of logistics operations and collaboratively justify new and innovative strategies and technologies for future operations of an organisation.  

Assessment

Assessment type Description Grade
Other Group poster (15%) and presentation (10%) 25%
Report Group industry research report on green logistics 35%
Test In-class test 40%

Required reading

Green logistics: Improving the environmental sustainability of logistics ebook 3rd edn
McKinnon, A., Browne, M., Whiteing, A., & Piecyk, M. (2015).
GBR: Kogan Page.

Where to next?

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following courses. Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course.

VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.