Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DECARBOMILE (Five pillars to DECARBOnize the last MILE logistics)
Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-08-31
Road transport constitutes the highest proportion of overall transport emissions - emitting 76% of all EU’s transport GHG emissions in 2021, according to the European Environment Agency. While current literature indicates that urban logistics and freight transport is not a topic which sparks strong interest from local authorities in their planning strategies, the understanding of the impact (environmental, economic, societal) of how we transport goods is of key importance to achieve climate-neutral and smart cities across Europe and the world. Based on the current demand pathway, global freight is foreseen to triple between 2015 and 2050, with a major impact on cities where 70% of the world population is expected to live in 2050. For these reasons, it is crucial that local stakeholders, including municipalities and logistics players, get to grips with the subject of urban logistics and the challenge of reducing its environnemental impact.
DECARBOMILE aims to trigger an unprecedented improvement of the green last mile logistics in Europe, based on 5 pillars: (1) collaboration, (2) sustainable business models, (3) urban integration and space management optimisation,(4) regulation, and (5) digitalisation. The project global objective is to demonstrate the full potential of decarbonised last mile logistics and promote sustainable practices in the industry to reduce transport externalities. The three specific objectives are targeting technical, social and environmental aspects, and are achieved by developing innovative delivery vehicles, fostering collaborative processes among stakeholders and creating sustainable business models.
The solutions developed in DECARBOMILE include an innovative framework for collaboration through a digital platform, co-creation methodologies, ICT and IoT tools, as well as improved delivery methods such as (micro) urban consolidation centres, smart lockers, innovations on cargo bikes, and an electric barge for urban freight in inland waterways. The implementation of these solutions have been prepared from WPs 1 to 6, paving the way for the implementation phase of these more sustainable and optimised urban logistics schemes. WPs 7 and 8 (ongoing) are dedicated to the use cases implementation and the evaluation of the key performance indicators of each model in place. These solutions will be fully implemented in four living labs (in Logroño - Spain, Nantes -France, Hamburg - Germany and Istanbul - Türkiye), including 3 currently in testing phase. Four additional satellites cities (Tallinn - Estonia, Getafe - Spain, Ghent - Belgium and Sarajevo - Bosnia and Herzegovina) are involved at a smaller scale to either pre-test or study the replicability potential of the solutions in their local contexts. The European scale of the experimentations in eight different countries give the project a broad scope that puts DECARBOMILE as the trigger of an unprecedented improvement of the green last mile logistics in Europe.
DECARBOMILE aims to trigger an unprecedented improvement of the green last mile logistics in Europe, based on 5 pillars: (1) collaboration, (2) sustainable business models, (3) urban integration and space management optimisation,(4) regulation, and (5) digitalisation. The project global objective is to demonstrate the full potential of decarbonised last mile logistics and promote sustainable practices in the industry to reduce transport externalities. The three specific objectives are targeting technical, social and environmental aspects, and are achieved by developing innovative delivery vehicles, fostering collaborative processes among stakeholders and creating sustainable business models.
The solutions developed in DECARBOMILE include an innovative framework for collaboration through a digital platform, co-creation methodologies, ICT and IoT tools, as well as improved delivery methods such as (micro) urban consolidation centres, smart lockers, innovations on cargo bikes, and an electric barge for urban freight in inland waterways. The implementation of these solutions have been prepared from WPs 1 to 6, paving the way for the implementation phase of these more sustainable and optimised urban logistics schemes. WPs 7 and 8 (ongoing) are dedicated to the use cases implementation and the evaluation of the key performance indicators of each model in place. These solutions will be fully implemented in four living labs (in Logroño - Spain, Nantes -France, Hamburg - Germany and Istanbul - Türkiye), including 3 currently in testing phase. Four additional satellites cities (Tallinn - Estonia, Getafe - Spain, Ghent - Belgium and Sarajevo - Bosnia and Herzegovina) are involved at a smaller scale to either pre-test or study the replicability potential of the solutions in their local contexts. The European scale of the experimentations in eight different countries give the project a broad scope that puts DECARBOMILE as the trigger of an unprecedented improvement of the green last mile logistics in Europe.
In the past 18 months, the project achieved notable progress in tools and equipment development (WP3 and WP4 achieved), coordination activities (WP2 and WP5 achieved, delivering co-constructed use cases' definitions and business models respectively) and implementation (1st real-life testings started). Concretely, living Lab use cases were further defined and validated with local stakeholders (WP2), while real-time monitoring and forecasting tools were deployed alongside digital city models and enhanced network design methods (WP3). Several technical solutions reached operational status, including Trycilift (patented), the PVerde application and lockers, and the NGS trackers, with active data exchange supporting their use (WP4). Business and governance frameworks advanced through stakeholder engagement and the development of localized value propositions and responsibility structures (WP5). The digital collaborative platform progressed with the deployment of FIWARE-based architecture, initial connectors, and a prototype last-mile digital twin (WP6). By August 2025, 3 use cases were operational, with additional pilots in preparation and replication activities initiated with satellite cities (WP7). Evaluation planning (WP8) began ahead of schedule, while dissemination activities (WP9) continued across multiple channels and events, and project management processes—including documentation, meetings, and IPR monitoring— (WP10) remained fully effective.
The project advanced across all areas, with improved stakeholder alignment and last-mile logistics planning, strengthened through continuous engagement (WP2). Data collection, forecasting tools, digital city models, and real-time monitoring were completed, while dynamic routing, network design, and load-pooling concepts reached ready-to-use maturity (WP3). Hardware solutions progressed to support multimodal transport (WP4). Nine sustainable business models—one per use case—were developed, each including value, governance, cost structure, risks, and scalability analyses (WP5). A ready-to-deploy federated Data Space architecture supporting secure, interoperable, and city-scale logistics data exchange was developed (WP6; to be achieved at the end of the project). Real-life testing started, showcasing first benefits and strong potential for decarbonized last-mile logistics and generated valuable technical, regulatory and business insights for replication (WP7). Evaluation planning progressed, with full assessment expected once more use cases are active (WP8). Dissemination expanded visibility, reaching 1,026 LinkedIn followers, 3,100 website visits, and high engagement across communication channels (146,552 views overall, representing 559 views per post on average) (WP9). Project coordination remained efficient through regular meetings and shared management tools, ensuring transparent and effective collaboration (WP10).