Graduate Research Papers

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Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)

Abstract

The logistics sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions yet the factors that determine whether firms adopt low-carbon practices remain poorly understood, particularly in the United States context. This paper reviews five thematic areas that shape low-carbon adoption among logistics firms. Sources from peer-reviewed articles and credible industry reports published within a ten-year period to this paper were selected through a two-stage screening process and analyzed using three theoretical lenses: Institutional, Stakeholder, and the Resource-Based View theories. Findings reveal that no single factor is sufficient to explain adoption outcomes. Regulatory pressure is frequently inconsistent, and stakeholders’ demands often send conflicting signals to firms. At the organizational level, top management commitment, technical capability, and access to capital emerged as the decisive internal conditions that determine whether external pressure translates into meaningful operational change. In addition, geographic context, particularly in the US Midwest with high operating costs, limited access to alternative fuel infrastructure, and a fragmented regulatory environment, creates structural barriers that existing literature does not fully address.

The review identified that most existing studies focus on large manufacturers or the global supply chain, leaving the experience of smaller, freight-focused US logistics carriers largely unexamined. This review contributes to the field by demonstrating that low-carbon adoption is a firm-level decision shaped by the interaction of external pressures, internal conditions, and the broader context in which a firm is located.

Year of Submission

2026

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Individual Studies

First Advisor

Julie Zhe Zhang

Date Original

2026

Object Description

1 PDF file (23 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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