Chain-Level Business Model Patterns for the Green Logistics Transition

Abstract

<p>Sustainability transitions in freight transport increasingly depend on coordinated changes across entire logistics networks, not just within individual firms. This study investigates how business-model change unfolds across a multimodal European logistics chain engaged in reducing transport-related emissions. Drawing on 10 semistructured interviews and five multistakeholder workshops, the analysis identifies seven chain-level business-model patterns that structure how value is proposed, created and captured during the green transition. These patterns encompass beyond-compliance decarbonisation commitments, the integration of digital and physical services, fleet-level carbon-attribute allocation, collaborative value sharing practices, risk-sharing arrangements, green-tier service differentiation and cost-balancing mechanisms. Together, they demonstrate that environmental performance improvements emerge not from isolated organisational initiatives but from coordinated, networked business-model configurations grounded in verified emissions data and chain-level alignment. The results highlight the strategic importance of ecosystem collaboration, demonstrating how firms can coshape the transition to climate-neutral logistics through network-level business-model innovation.<br></p>