Green Logistics : A System of Methods and Instruments-Part 2 Zelena logistika : sustav metoda i instrumenata – 2

DOI 10.17818/NM/2018/1.7 UDK 502/504:656 Review / Pregledni rad Paper accepted / Rukopis primljen: 31. 8. 2017. Aleksandr Rakhmangulov Department of Logistics and Transportation Systems Management Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University Russia e-mail: ran@magtu.ru Aleksander Sladkowski Department of Logistics and Industrial Transportation Silesian University of Technology Poland e-mail: aleksander.sladkowski@polsl.pl Nikita Osintsev Department of Logistics and Transportation Systems Management Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University Russia e-mail: osintsev@magtu.ru


LITERATURE REVIEW / Pregled literature
Review and analysis of the publications, as well as results of current scientific studies in the field of sustainable development, [1 -3], green logistics [3], [4] and integration of environmental factor into the practice of logistics management [5 -7] show that: -concepts and terminology apparatus of green logistics and green supply chain management have developed, approaches and principles of sustainable development have formulated, the system of indicators for assessing this activity and legal framework for its implementing have created; -environmental conscience and skills of ecological behaviour have been actively forming in business and private life; training, development of competencies for sustainable development are being implemented; -different kinds of environmental programs and projects are performed with the support of public and state institutions, business structures, research institutions and international associations.
However, generally accepted principles of green logistics have not been formulated yet, and there is a lack of a unified system of methods and tools for implementing these principles. Many researchers have noted the problem of implementation of green principles in practice , because there is the contradiction between the logistics principles aimed to maximise profits and to achieve economic growth and activity related to the reduction of the harmful impact on the environment [8], [9].
Review of existing and prospective instruments of green logistics [10] combined these instruments in 4 groups: -economic instruments aimed at minimising the transport costs for example as a result of using cheaper and environmentally friendly modes of transport, optimisation of rolling stock' loading, optimisation of the size of transport shipments, selection of efficient routes and transportation schemes; -legal instruments represent the established in advance and adopted in the prescribed manner regulatory limits; -instruments of social policy based on the complex application of economic and legal instruments with the aim to create and operate the transport infrastructure by social and environmental requirements, for example, through the implementation of intellectual transport systems, rational organisation of passenger transportation; -information and analytical tools, providing information support of the application of other instruments of green logistics include, for example, scientific studies, training, dissemination of best practices of environmental education and education for sustainable development, benchmarking, consulting, the use of carbon calculators and eco-labelling. Authors reviewed the methods of green logistics regarding business and included in it: management of transport system (combined transport, 3PL-logistics), packaging management (to reduce the impact of packaging materials on environment), an organisation of green communications and production; warehouse management and waste management [11]. The matrix of green logistics methods, presented in studies [12], is systemized in levels of transportation management, warehousing and the provision of additional services.
The ways to reduce the harmful impact on logistics companies, outlined in the study [13], are systemized in three directions: technical, operational (operating) and logistical. Authors have classified ten ways according to the complexity and efficiency, as the priority actions of the sustainability of logistics systems [14].
Studies [15], [16] reflect the analyses of the logistics operation of green supply chains' management (designing, planning and controlling the objects of the logistics infrastructure, as well as the processes of delivery and storage of products) from the perspective of strategic, tactical and operational management.
Thus, the analysis of scientific studies in the field of sustainable development leads to the conclusion that there is a wide variety of approaches and views on contents of methods and instruments of green logistics that caused the thin consistency of its implementation. In the practice of logistics companies, it reduces the efficiency of these methods and instruments separately, does not contribute to the planned reduction of the harmful impact of transport on the environment in case of the increased economic efficiency of supply chains' operation.

SYSTEM OF GREEN LOGISTICS METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS / Sustav metoda i instrumenata zelene logistike
Authors have carried out the systematization of methods and instruments of green logistics with the application of structuralfunctional [17] [18] and systemic approaches [19] to describe logistics and transport system. These methods are based on the selection of fundamental (basic) functions of the elements of the logistics systems.
According to this approach, the following elements of logistics systems were identified, (Fig. 1): input flow, applying the basic function of material flow's entering into logistics system and providing purchase, supply of logistics system with raw materials, materials or services. Cumulative element, providing the management function of material flows' speed as a result of it braking, accumulation and storage. Transport element implements the basic function of expediting and braking material flows. Processing element provides the function of changes in the qualitative properties of material flows, its transformation from raw materials to the finished products. Output element ensures the removal of material flow from logistics system, sales and distribution of finished products and services. Management element provides information and financial relationship between the elements of the logistics system, monitors the implementation of its functions and operations, regulates the promotion of information and financial flows in the logistics system.
The structural-functional approach, used by authors to systematise well-known methods of green logistics, is fundamentally different from the standard way to select functional areas of logistics: transport logistics, transport, distribution logistics, industrial logistics, supplying logistics and warehouse logistics [24]. The disadvantage of this functional approach is «linking» of logistics functions and operations to the infrastructure elements of supply chains -warehouses, industrial enterprises, supply, sales and transport departments. Moreover, there is a situation in the use of a functional approach to solving the problems of systemizing logistics methods, when the same management method of logistics flows is implemented in different functional areas of logistics.
It is one of the leading causes of non-harmonized application of methods and instruments of green logistics when same methods and instruments are applied in different methodical basis, supported by different normative-legal documents, sometimes conflicting between each other. A typical example is the selection of the separate functional area in green logistics -also called «reverse logistics». In our view, this choice is excessive, since the object of reverse logistics management is material flow consisting of waste products, packaging, package, secondary raw materials, but different from the main material flow only by direction -it moves towards with the main one. Green methods of reverse flow management are being implemented by the same logistics elements, where management object is the material flow.
It is quite evident that means of transport are one of the main supports of any logistics systems. Therefore, if we talk about green logistics, we should understand that it should be based on environmentally friendly modes of transport. It is obvious that bicycle transport fully meets the principles of green logistics and should be used as much as possible, especially in urban conditions [20]. However, for the delivery of heavy and bulky cargo, it is not adapted. A good solution is the use of inland waterways [21], yet, the application of this mode of transport also has limitations. A radical environmental solution for urban transport is the widespread use of electric or solar cars for the delivery of goods [22,23]. However, this answer is more for not so distant future. At present, great importance is the use of gaseous fuels (compressed or liquefied gas). Also, the additives for traditional engines, for example, the use of hydrogen, can now be considered [25]. These solutions can help ensure that modern transport meets the principles of green logistics.
Consequently, one of the leading advantages of the structural-functional approach to the systematisation of different green logistics methods is the possibility to group all well-known green methods in two main signs. First sign based on membership to the logistics element, realising one of the fundamental logistics functions, and the second one based on membership to the effects-based methods on one of the logistics elements, or on material flow and flow of services, either on information and financial flows. Described systematisation approach allows not only identify the cases of green methods' duplication at different stages of logistics process, but also to determine missing perspective methods and tools that are successfully applied in traditional logistics, but not considered as the green methods because of misunderstanding of the sources of its environmental effect. Table 1 presents the results of systematisation of methods and instruments of green logistics by the structural-functional approach. Formulation of methods and instruments is similar to the formulation of traditional logistics methods in the table, however, it is necessary to consider these methods as the methods and instruments for achieving sustainable development goals in terms of green logistics. For example, the instrument «analysis of suppliers' market» that generally used for selecting the optimal suppliers according to the criterion «quality/price» (goal 8), must take into account the requirements of rational use of water (goals 6 and 14) and forest resources (goal 15) in green logistics. Moreover, this instrument forms mutually beneficial logistics networks with suppliers of raw materials, engaging them in the process of implementing green logistics methods (goal 17).

THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSES ON SYSTEMATIZATION OF GREEN LOGISTICS METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS / Rezultati analiza sistematizacije metoda i instrumenata zelene logistike
The analysis of the frequency of using methods and instruments of green logistics to achieve the goals of sustainable development in elements of logistics system allows to make the following conclusions: the implementation of identified 27 methods and 104 instruments of green logistics achieves thirteen goals of sustainable development from seventeen. The highest number of instruments are implemented by management flow of logistics system (21 instruments with achievement goal' frequency equal to 164), but the smallest number of instruments implements by input element (13 instruments with achievement goals' frequency equal to 71). Indicators of instruments' number and frequency of its usage in other logistics elements are quite similar (17-18 instruments with achievement goal' frequency of sustainable development in a range of 94 to 108).
It should be pointed out that input logistics element together with output element, is a boundary element of the logistics system, providing the connection with this system and external environment. This element also determines the properties of material flow in a system and eventually defines the impact of this flow on abilities of other logistics elements to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Therefore, in our opinion, it is necessary to carry out intensive research efforts to search and develop new methods and instruments of green logistics, specific only for input logistics element. The most number of popular instruments are applied for achieving the goals No. 8 (decent work and economic growth), No. 9 (industrialisation, innovation and infrastructure) and No. 13 (climate change).
These goals coincide with the traditional economic and infrastructure goals of logistics, but goal No. 13 corresponds to current normative-legal restrictions and requirements in the field of ecology that should observe by companies, operating on the market of logistics services. Instruments of green logistics are little used for achieving the goals No. 3 (good health and well-being), No. 4 (quality education) and No. 16 (peace, justice and effective institutions) due to indirect impact of these instruments on achieving the goals which are priority for that kind of areas such as health, education and law. Instruments of green logistics do not directly impact on achieving the goal No. 1 (elimination of poverty), No. 2 (elimination of hunger), No. 5 (gender equality) and 10 (reducing inequality). The main reason for that is solving these problems related to global and national priorities at the state level. Authors didn't identify logistics methods and instruments, ensuring direct achievement of these goals. It is necessary to carry out additional research for establishing the impact of instruments of green logistics on such common goals, as well as to develop appropriate new instruments and methods.

CONCLUSION / Zaključak
The paper has presented a new approach to achieve the goals of sustainable development at the operation of logistics and transport systems by the originally developed system of methods and instruments of green logistics. The structural-functional and system approaches are applied at the systematisation of methods involving allocation of (basic) functions of elements of logistics systems. Grouping of instruments is carried out by the purpose of each method, green logistics and taking into account the functions to pass and process logistics flows.
Application of proposed approach could be used form balanced programs of improving the sustainability and efficiency of supply chains' operation. The systematic implementation of methods and instruments of green logistics will ensure achieving the goals of sustainable development. Moreover, the developed system of methods could assess green supply chains and its elements compatibility with principles of sustainable development, identify gaps in recommended methods. In authors opinion, further development of presented approach in the paper is to develop the mathematical apparatus allowing to globally optimise the parameters of logistics flows with the aim to ensure sustainable development of supply chains by coordinated selection and realisation of methods and instruments of green logistics. Table 2 The analysis of usage frequency of methods and instruments of green logistics to achieve the goals of sustainable development in elements of logistics system Tablica 2. Analiza korištenja učestalosti metoda i instrumenata zelene logistike da bi se postigli ciljevi održivoga razvoja u elementima sustava logistike