Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 9
Air freight and global supply chains:
the environmental dimension
David Gillingwater, Ian Humphreys and Robert Watson
I
NTRODUCTION
There can be little doubt that the enhanced mobility of people and goods that has so
characterized life in recent decades is profoundly altering the structures upon which
the competitiveness of nation states, regions and localities around the world depend
(Capello and Gillespie, 1993). This multifaceted phenomenon, more often than not
referred to simply as 'globalization', brings with it some complex consequences -
none more perplexing than those associated with environmental impacts. In terms
of the movement of goods, a clear example is provided by the advent of advanced
physical distribution systems. Based upon the principles of supply chain manage-
ment and logistics (Bowersox and Closs, 1996), it is supporting corporate strategies
geared towards developing new sources of competitive advantage globally.
As logistics operations have become ever more global, and as new agile produc-
tion systems such as 'just in time' (JIT) have come to dominate, supply chains have
required more rapid responses; thus, the movement of goods by air has become ever
more important. As a result, air-freight volumes have increased dramatically, with
many supply chains now highly dependent upon this mode of transport. A recent
study conducted for the UK government calculated that in 1996 the contribution of
air freight to the UK economy was of the order of UK£4.99 billion of gross domes-
tic product (GDP) (DETR, 2000).
A significant part of this contribution has resulted from the development of
innovative logistics services, such as those fulfilling the requirements of e-commerce
- typically on the basis of order and delivery within 24 hours. To meet such time-
sensitive movements, providers are becoming increasingly dependent upon the use
of all-freighter air-freight services. Common to both is a set of environmental
