Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the contribution of logistics service providers’ (LSPs) initiatives to disaster relief and how LSPs are engaged with humanitarian sector. In recent years, the importance of logistics services in disaster relief operations and the capacity of LSPs to improve humanitarian supply chain management have become an increasingly interesting topic for both professionals and academics.
Design/methodology/approach
This research follows a qualitative approach based on multiple case studies.
Findings
The current research, after considering the differences and similarities among collaboration, cooperation and coordination and underlining how crucial these mechanisms are in the humanitarian context, explains the contribution of LSPs to relief operations alongside humanitarians.
Research limitations/implications
There has been increased interest in humanitarian logistics on the part of international academic and professional communities. This study constitutes a first exploratory step in the research to build a platform for benchmarking analysis of logistics services that aims to ensure the effective implementation of social responsibility principles.
Practical implications
The managerial implications arising from the research offer a range of current responsible actions from which strategic and operative directions to contribute can be derived.
Originality/value
Humanitarian logistics represents a crucial field in logistics management. This paper addresses the innovative socially responsible initiatives undertaken by the main international LSPs in the area of humanitarian logistics.
Logistics service providers (LSPs) can contribute to the creation of environmentally sustainable supply chains. This research examines which of the internal and external practices that LSPs claim to promote are actually of value in achieving sustainability across the logistics sector as a whole and in the relevant supply chains in which they operate. After an analysis of the literature, the authors draw up a list of relevant environmental concerns based on the global reporting initiatives (GRIs) database and propose a potential classification scheme for current practices of selected LSPs operating in Europe. Our research adds to current knowledge in the field by integrating environmental sustainability with LSP activities and constitutes a platform for benchmark analysis with a view to introducing sustainable practices.
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