Green logistics practices in Turkey

Abstract

Purpose- Since the beginning of the 1990’s, researches on using environmentally friendly technologies in logistic practices to mitigate the damage to environment have begun. A new application area, green logistic, has emerged which takes environmental and social factors into consideration, which is interested with the goods that are produced and distributed in a sustainable manner, and that aims to minimize energy consumption in logistics activities, minimize wastes and manage operations. This study aims to present the green logistics practices in Turkey. Methodology- The indicators table was prepared with datas from literature review, face-to-face interviews with firms in the scope of the research field and questionnaire with questions about activities. Face-to-face and phone calls with company officials, sustainability reports from the green logistics sector, and articles and news on the internet related to the subject were utilized. Findings- It is determined that logistics companies in Turkey adopt green logistics indicators. Conclusion- The study reveals that green logistics applications are seen in Turkey and companies are trying to enrich their business policies with a green point of view and that green logistics will provide competitive advantages in terms of logistics companies in the coming years.