Green Logistics: In Pursuit of a Final Definition

Abstract

Green logistics (GL) is a topic of growing interest for policymakers, business managers, academics, and society at large. There has been a steadily increasing amount of research on the subject; however, there is still no unified understanding or definition of GL or a consensus on what it means depending on the scope of its application. Therefore, the objective of this study is to establish a clear definition of such a widely used concept, outlining the differences between it and sustainable logistics, eco-logistics, and similar concepts. To do so, we performed a systematic literature review of 510 articles from 2000 to 2023 and present two comprehensive definitions, differentiating between geographical and business perspectives to avoid academic and managerial misconceptions in the future by reviewing 55 distinct available definitions. Additionally, we developed a visual diagram that illustrates the differences between environmentally conscious concepts.