Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and the University of St. Gallen's Chair of Logistics Management conducted this study in order to identify and assess switchpoints that will shape the future of the logistics industry. Rather than making projections focused on a fixed point in time, the authors instead aimed to identify the most unpredictable developments that could impact logistics. Consequently, the topics for discussion range from fairly specific near-future developments to more exploratory "blue-sky" topics. Throughout their highly interesting discussions with respondents and experts, the authors encountered a wide range of uncommon and unexpected, but not at all unlikely projections for the future.

This book focuses on the need to develop sustainable supply chains - economically, environmentally and socially. This book is not about a wish list of impractical choices, but the reality of decisions faced by all those involved in supply chain management today. Our definition of sustainable supply chains is not restricted to so-called "green" supply chains, but recognises that in order to be truly sustainable, supply chains must operate within a realistic financial structure, as well as contribute value to our society. Supply chains are not sustainable unless they are realistically funded and valued. Thus, a real definition of sustainable supply chain management must take account of all relevant economic, social and environmental issues. This book contains examples from a wide range of real-life case studies, and synthesizes the learnings from these many different situations to provide the fundamental building blocks at the centre of successful logistics and supply chain management.

Weltweit verursachen Transport und Verkehr etwa ein Drittel der CO2-Emissionen, davon entfallen 75 Prozent auf den Strassenverkehr. NGOs, der Gesetzgeber aber auch Verlader fordern daher zunehmend Transparenz und die Senkung von CO2-Emissionen, was dazu gefuhrt hat, dass sich CO2-Management fur Logistikdienstleister zu einem strategischen Zukunftsthema entwickelt hat. Fuhrende Logistikdienstleister setzen sich mit dem Thema CO2-Management intensiv auseinander und haben zur Erfassung und zum Reporting von Emissionskennzahlen weitgehend unternehmensindividuelle Loesungsansatze erarbeitet. Insbesondere mittelstandische Logistikdienstleister stehen aber vor der Herausforderung, trotz schlanker Geschaftsstrukturen und begrenzter finanzieller sowie personeller Ressourcen, kontinuierlich Wissen aufzubauen und ein geeignetes operatives Instrumentarium fur das CO2-Management zu entwickeln.