Online shopping continues to grow, bringing convenience for consumers but also increasing pressure on cities through traffic, emissions and failed home deliveries. To address these challenges, Mobilise VUB is contributing to the European research project CodeZERO, which aims to co-design, test and evaluate zero-emission last-mile delivery and return solutions for e-commerce.
The CodeZERO project brings together cities, logistics operators, retailers, researchers and citizens across Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Norway. More information about the project can be found on the CodeZERO website, and a short teaser video is available on Vimeo.
Why focus on pick-up points?
In Belgium, the pilot project in Antwerp — carried out together with Stad Antwerpen, bpost and TORFS — focuses on the deployment and use of pick-up points and parcel lockers. Based on co-design sessions with stakeholders and consumers, this solution was identified as particularly promising for three reasons.
1. More convenience for consumers
Pick-up points allow customers to collect their parcels when it suits them, close to home or along their daily routes. Parcel lockers are accessible 24/7, making it easier to combine parcel collection with work, shopping or leisure activities.
2. Reduced environmental impact
By bundling deliveries at pick-up points, logistics operators can reduce the number of stops in residential streets. Fewer stops mean less traffic, lower energy use and reduced emissions from last-mile deliveries and returns.
3. Inclusive and safer delivery options
Pick-up points strengthen connections with local actors in neighbourhoods and improve accessibility. Installing parcel lockers at locations such as retirement homes supports social inclusion, while lockers also reduce the risk of parcel theft at private doorsteps.
What is being tested in Antwerp?
Within the Antwerp pilot, partners are implementing, promoting and evaluating pick-up point solutions through three interconnected actions:
Infrastructure deployment
bpost is expanding the network of parcel lockers and postal points in postcodes 2000, 2018 and 2060. The ambition is that 85% of consumers will have access to a parcel locker within a 400-metre radius. In addition, TORFS offers click & collect at its stores on the Meir. Capacity is increased in high-demand areas to better match delivery preferences.
Promotion and behavioural change
Infrastructure alone is not enough. The project therefore also focuses on communication and awareness-raising to encourage consumers to choose pick-up points instead of home delivery. These actions highlight the environmental benefits, make the network of pick-up points more visible, and encourage the use of active transport modes when collecting parcels.
Evaluation and research
Mobilise VUB monitors how these interventions influence consumer behaviour over time. Rather than relying on a simple before–after comparison, the project uses a detailed intervention agenda and repeated measurements to better isolate and understand their impact.
Help us improve sustainable delivery solutions
📢 You can actively contribute to this research.
Are you an online shopper living in Antwerp? Your input helps us identify which measures work best to promote sustainable e-commerce deliveries in cities like Antwerp.
👉 Take our short survey (less than 3 minutes):
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