Meet CodeZERO, GreenTurn’s sister project

GreenTurn’s sister project, CodeZERO, is pioneering sustainable e-commerce deliveries. A ‘sister project’ refers to a related initiative funded under the same EU program, sharing aligned objectives and target audiences within a common thematic focus.

These projects are designed to complement each other by sharing insights, methodologies, and outcomes. Sister projects collaborate to identify shared opportunities, avoid duplicating efforts, and optimise resources, ultimately working together to maximise their collective impact.

Closing the gap between convenience and sustainability

Today’s hyper-convenient online shopping has created high expectations among consumers. Fast, free, and flexible delivery options are now the standard, but are these expectations sustainable?

Consumers now have more delivery options than ever, but there is often little transparency about the environmental impact of each choice. This lack fuels a disconnect between consumer expectations and the logistical realities, highlighting the need for solutions that align convenience with sustainability to build a more responsible e-commerce ecosystem.

CodeZERO is a direct response to this disconnect. It is a transformative three-year initiative to create sustainable, zero-emission last-mile delivery and return solutions for e-commerce and to make these solutions attractive and viable for retailers, logistics service providers and consumers.

Project Coordinator, Claudia de Stasio, Senior expert in sustainable mobility and transport at TRT Trasporti e Territorio, explains the project’s holistic approach, “This ambitious project looks at sustainability from the perspectives of all involved stakeholders, and – most importantly – embraces sustainability in wider terms, by considering not only environmental but also the social and economic implications of delivery and return options.”

To do so, CodeZERO is innovating, testing and sharing solutions to influence consumer behaviour to choose more sustainable delivery options in four pilot sites: Antwerp, Milan, Oslo, and Utrecht.

In these four sites, CodeZERO boasts partners from across the logistics chain. They include leading commercial partners such as IKEA in Norway and Italy, JUMBO, TORFS, logistics operators like bpost, So.De, and cities including Antwerp, Oslo, Utrecht, and Milan. These partners are supported by strong network and research partners including, TRT, TNO, TOI, VUB and Eurocities.

Together, they are working to achieve the following:

Understand: Gain insights into consumers’ preferences for current delivery options.
Co-design: Collaborate to develop sustainable delivery and return options.
Develop: Create effective communication guidelines to promote sustainable choices.
Support: Assist local authorities in developing policies for sustainable last-mile delivery.
Test: Evaluate sustainable delivery options and communication strategies.
Strengthen: Enhance international coordination and collaboration.

Building a sustainable e-commerce ecosystem

CodeZERO will culminate in several key deliverables that will significantly impact sustainable e-commerce logistics:

CodeZERO Communication Guidelines will provide comprehensive strategies for retailers and logistics providers to effectively promote sustainable delivery options to consumers.

CodeZERO Delivery and Return Solutions will offer fully developed and tested sustainable delivery and return systems tailored to the e-commerce sector.

CodeZERO Toolset for Local Authorities will present a practical set of tools and guidelines designed to assist local authorities in crafting and implementing policies for sustainable last-mile delivery.

These results will not only facilitate the adoption of greener delivery practices but also serve as a blueprint for other regions aiming to enhance their sustainable logistics frameworks.