In the EU White Paper on Transport 2011 the emphasis was laid on green transport corridors, i.e. transhipment routes with concentration of freight traffic between major hubs and by relatively long distances of transport marked by reduced environmental and climate impact while increasing safety and efficiency with application of sustainable logistics solutions. Green transport is based on inter-modality and advanced ICT-systems improving traffic management, increase efficiency and better integrate the logistics components of a corridor. Until today only the first steps have been realised in the implementation of green corridor concepts, so that concrete requirements and frame conditions for ICT-systems of green corridors are described on conceptual basis. Baltic Sea Region (BSR) enjoys a vanguard position in the development and realisation of green transport concepts in Europe and some research projects delivered already the first results for the requirements of ICT-systems supporting green transport corridors. Of special importance is the EU initiative “East-West Transport Corridor (EWTC II)” since for the first time a green corridor manual has been presented formulating recommendations and requirements of green transport corridors to European level. The authors took part in some important green transport corridor initiatives around the Baltic Sea, including EWTC project, and were involved in related research activities. This paper aims at pointing out the current status and the future direction of ICT-systems for green transport corridors, especially under the viewpoint of secure and sustainable green corridor management.
This paper aims at conceptualising and assessing operational environment of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) in sustainable supply chains in regional context. The paper starts an attempt to explore how SMEs in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany from transport, logistics related value-added services and especially from the air freight sector collaborate, perform and develop from supply chain management perspective, and what crucial determinants for burgeoning business performance and sustainable strategy are effectively to be linked for the benefits of SMEs. Using a qualitative case study approach, the paper bears on empirical evidences of the project “Baltic.AirCargo.Net” financed by the European Regional Development Fund / European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument in the framework of the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013. The paper builds upon a qualitative research approach involving expert interviews, focus groups analysis and secondary data research based on relevant project documentation and field notes from project meetings and workshops. Findings of the case study from the German air cargo service providers are explored and discussed through key theoretical concepts pertaining to sustainable supply chains and logistics of SMEs. Based on the relevant scholarly work and results of empirical evidence and case studies, a conceptual model is designed with propositions and possible future directions for SMEs. The paper showcases empirical findings gathered from the practices of regional SMEs operating in the air cargo transport and logistics service field, thus expanding this poorly conceived research area. The research is based on direct information and insights from SMEs located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and highlights how SMEs under the given circumstances may streamline their development paths operationally, tactically and strategically. Insights obtained from this paper can be employed as critical tool among SMEs’ managers, strategy planners and policy decision-makers on how to utilize SMEs’ practices in the context of supply chains, logistics networks and emerging scope of globalisation and trade.