On 9 April 2025, POLIS' Urban Freight Working Group organised a joint webinar with ALICE, the Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe, shedding light on strategies for optimising urban areas by integrating logistics functions into the urban environment while maintaining accessible and engaging public spaces.

The online event, which was attended by 90 participants, focused on the two EU-funded projects of DISCO and UNCHAIN and gave the floor to Amazon to share their experiences with micro hubs, which are integrated in several bus depots in Paris.

The webinar started with a brief introduction of both host organisations, ALICE and POLIS, and their strategic dialogue. ALICE promoted the guide for advancing towards zero-emission urban logistics by 2030, and POLIS emphasised the importance of its working groups and action pillars.

DISCO: Thessaloniki use case – Vasileios Giannoudis (CERTH/HIT)

The CERTH research associate introduced CERTH/HIT and the DISCO project, highlighting the use case in Thessaloniki. This includes a living lab organised by CERTH/HIT, HELEXPO as the real estate partner, ACS as the logistics operator, and the City of Thessaloniki as the innovation accelerator.

These entities are cooperating to support urban deliveries within Thessaloniki’s historic city centre—a highly relevant context for the DISCO project, which aims to help cities embrace the Physical Internet transformation of urban logistics and sustainable planning, as well as to strategically manage urban and peri-urban space.

The DISCO Living Lab began by identifying underutilised areas within the Thessaloniki Expo Centre that could be repurposed as warehouses by the involved partners. To integrate the warehousing capabilities of the use case partners, existing challenges such as differing opening hours and the expo centre’s layout had to be addressed. The plan is to expand operations to other physical locations in Greece’s second-largest city.

UNCHAIN: Florence use case – Alessandra Barbieri (Municipality of Florence)

The challenges of urban logistics in Florence stem from significant tourist flows and the constraints of UNESCO heritage sites, which impact traffic and deliveries. To align with EU climate goals, the Municipality of Florence aims to reduce freight emissions from urban mobility and logistics by 45% by 2030, with even more ambitious targets in the longer term.

Tools such as the Florence Low-Emission Zone (ZTL in Italian), the introduction of a congestion charge, and additional access regulations have helped lower emissions, ease congestion, and promote public transport. Enforcement has become stricter as regulations tighten. A new phase of access restrictions targeting the most polluting large vehicles, including tourist buses, began this year. These rules and traffic flows are monitored by the Smart City Control Room (SCCR), Florence’s modern traffic management centre.

Alternative mobility solutions, including public transport, and real-time information—such as traffic rules and Low-Emission Zone access—are available via the Florence InfoMobility App, which could evolve into a full Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform.

The UNCHAIN project’s operational area is near the Mercato di San Ambrogio, a fresh food market in the historical city centre. The pilot aims to improve urban planning services, optimise space use, ensure safe freight operations, and monitor Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVARs) for logistics operators. A dedicated planning tool also enables freight operators to locate on-street loading zones through dynamic curbside management, which the municipality can update as zones change.

Amazon: Micro hub in RATP bus depot – Joy Pasquet (Amazon Logistics)

Amazon Logistics, the last-mile delivery branch of Amazon, operates across numerous European urban centres to ensure timely delivery with minimal environmental impact. The logistics chain flows as follows: after a purchase, goods are packaged at a fulfilment centre, sent to the nearest urban delivery station, and grouped into efficient routes by clustering parcels with nearby delivery addresses. The last mile begins once parcels leave the delivery station via third-party service providers using cargo bikes or pushcarts.
In 2024 alone, 180 million packages were delivered by pushcarts and electric vehicles in cities like Paris, where over 60% of parcels were delivered on foot, by bike, or by more than 100 electric vans. This method is especially effective in Paris due to chronic congestion.

To ensure efficient active-mobility delivery, parcels are pre-sorted at four RATP bus depots. During operating hours, Amazon delivery trucks access these relatively empty depots. Parcels are sorted and loaded onto pushcarts or cargo bikes, which deliver them within a 3–4 km radius. By the end of the day, all deliveries are completed and the depots are cleared, allowing buses to park in the evening.

Paris has served as Amazon’s 'urban laboratory,' enabling the company to test and refine its use of existing infrastructure. This model shows how repurposing real estate—such as public transport depots—can lead to more efficient logistics in dense urban areas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the webinar showcased a diverse set of innovative approaches to urban freight challenges across Europe. From rethinking the use of public infrastructure in Paris, to integrating real-time planning tools in Florence, and launching collaborative living labs in Thessaloniki, the projects presented highlighted the importance of cross-sector cooperation, data-driven planning, and adaptive regulation.

The session also reinforced the value of shared learning between cities, logistics operators, and technology providers. As urban freight continues to evolve under the pressures of climate targets, digitalisation, and rising delivery demand, such platforms for dialogue and experimentation will be essential.

View the full recording of the webinar here.