Research on green logistics is often obstructed by slow-paced empirical methods, extended writing/publication intervals, difficult-to-obtain funds with prolonged application processes, protracted recruitment of doctoral/postdoctoral researchers, reactive inquiries to the industry’s green logistics applications, emphasis on knowledge creation (rather than knowledge transfer), slow responsiveness to global events, and a lack of interdisciplinary integration

Scholars often face challenges in accessing relevant and timely data on the latest GLPs and struggle to keep pace with rapidly evolving environmental standards and policies

(Responsibly) Utilize generative AI tools to facilitate brainstorming, in-depth analysis and predictive insights. Pay close attention to ethical and integrity guidelines for AI use (cf. Hendriksen, 2023; Richey et al., 2023)

Seek funding opportunities from public and industry sources through grants specifically targeting sustainability research

Engage in interdisciplinary collaborations that blend logistics management with more fast-paced and applied fields like transport science, environmental engineering and information technology

Implement intervention-based research (e.g. action principles research) to join logistics practitioners in assessing emergent GLPs in real-world settings

Join KTP (or similar) programs that promote (1) knowledge transfer, where clear roles for academic knowledge creators and practice-based knowledge receivers are established at the outset of research projects and (2) knowledge co-creation, where both academics and practitioners jointly create knowledge

Communicate with relevant stakeholders and regularly update research inquiries to align with the rapidly evolving environmental regulations and standards

Increase practical relevance by seeking logistics practitioners’ input during the research process (e.g. problem formulation, theorizing, data analysis and implication extraction)

Consider co-authorship with logistics practitioners

Include grey literature from LSPs’ annual/sustainability reports to stay abreast of the latest green logistics trends

Editorial progress may get delayed by high volumes of submissions, lack of specialized reviewers and a tendency to decline reviews or offer non-constructive critiques

Editors might struggle to maintain a balance between timely publication and thorough reviews, especially for niche subjects like newly developed GLPs

Proactive and novel research is rarely welcomed by editors of traditional journals, who tend to prefer research that is reactive, empirically based and aligned with established knowledge

Use AI-based editorial and manuscript tracking systems to improve the efficiency and management of submissions

Develop special issues focusing on emergent green logistics themes to attract cutting-edge research

Broaden the pool of reviewers to include experts in sustainability and logistics from outside the L&SCM field

Introduce expedited review tracks for innovative and potentially impactful green logistics research

Involve practitioners with relevant academic expertise to accelerate (and potentially streamline) the peer-review process

Open avenues for proactive and thought-provoking submissions, even if not backed by thorough empirical data

Reviewers tend to rely on conventional evaluation criteria, which may not adequately assess innovative or interdisciplinary aspects of evolving green logistics research

The review process can be prolonged due to the complexity and novelty of topics covered or the methods applied

Reviewers often favor research that aligns closely with current knowledge, resulting in hesitance to accept studies that reveal new phenomena or challenge prevailing understandings

Develop and adopt specialized review criteria tailored for green logistics research

(Responsibly) Use AI-assisted tools to provide initial screening and insights for the review report. This should not compromise the thoroughness and reflectivity needed for the actual review

Engage in continuous training to stay updated with the latest advancements in green logistics policies and practices

Consider jointly reviewing submissions with logistics practitioners to incorporate diverse opinions in the review report

Be open to appreciating current research for its own logic and reasoning, rather than blindly measuring it against previous knowledge, familiar methods, or adopted schools of thought

Research departments may be slow to integrate green logistics inquiries into their programs due to a lack of expertise, resources and institutional support

Hiring specialized researchers can be time-consuming due to lengthy recruitment and visa application processes

The focus of some departments may still be aligned with traditional logistics metrics, lagging behind emerging sustainability trends

Faculty are often hired and promoted with no regard for industrial/sustainability impact

Incubate KTP (or similar) programs that promote pracademic knowledge transfer and knowledge co-creation schemes

Incorporate advanced technologies like AI, IoT and big data analytics into research programs and faculty resources

Redefine research agendas to prioritize responsive green logistics research, making it a core area of study

Create pracademic workshops, seminars and events to promote relevance and responsiveness to global events

Launch short-term, impact-driven research projects on emerging green logistics issues for prompt application in real-world setups

Revise the criteria for hiring and promoting faculty to include metrics that measure real industrial/sustainability impact (e.g. co-development of GLPs)