Green Strategic Planning Approach for International Shipping Activities

Xiaofang Wu, Luoping Zhang and Huan Feng
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Xiaofang Wu: College of Harbour and Environmental Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
Luoping Zhang: Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
Huan Feng: Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-27

Abstract: Sustainability is a long-term and ultimate goal for international shipping, although it is slowly making progress. The shipping perspective that moves away from “port-to-port” operations to “door-to-door” services also requires international shipping to take a long-term and holistic view instead of fragmented efforts. How to achieve the long-term sustainability goal becomes a key issue for door-to-door international shipping. Hence, green strategic planning for door-to-door international shipping was proposed with green development that puts forward the eco-centric point of view as its basic theory for sustainability. This study used a strategic decision-making approach, a so-called multi-dimensional decision-making (MDDM), coupled with the life-cycle thinking and continual improvement of ISO 14000, to achieve strategic planning for door-to-door international shipping aiming at sustainability. A case study showed an example of potential framework and/or methodology for the door-to-door international shipping, which integrates green development principles into international shipping planning to reach the long-term goal of sustainability, and meet the needs of the “door-to-door” logistics. It not only points out the general environmental problems but also identifies many critical issues for sustainability in international shipping. As a result, this study developed an approach and methods for sustainable door-to-door international shipping based on the proactively strategic decision-making associated with green development.

Keywords: international shipping; strategic planning; green development; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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