MCCs and mobile depots being tested in the Athens Living Lab – best practice featured in the latest EIT Urban Mobility insight

The latest insight from EIT Urban Mobility explores the future of microhubs in last-mile logistics. Showcasing practical examples from across Europe, it highlights best practices from three Horizon Europe projects that form the Sustainable Last-Mile Logistics Cluster – URBANE, DECARBOMILE and GREEN-LOG.

The insight features the practical example from the GREEN-LOG project’s Athens Living Lab, which is introducing micro-consolidation centres (MCCs) and mobile depots at predefined stops around the city centre, optimising last-mile deliveries through a collaborative logistics network.

Read the insight here: https://bit.ly/3XZtjqe

GREEN-LOG and the work implemented in Mechelen featured in the regional press

Two prominent Flemish regional media outlets, VRT News and Het Laatste Nieuws, have published articles showcasing the work carried out by GREEN-LOG in Mechelen and its results.

VRT News, Flanders’ public broadcasting agency, published the article “Mechelen experimenteert met alternatieve pakjesleveringen: ‘20 procent minder bestelwagens’” (“Mechelen experiments with alternative parcel deliveries: ‘20 percent fewer vans’”) [link].

Het Laatste Nieuws, a digital newspaper reaching over 2 million daily readers, featured the story in their article “Test met cityhub en cargofiets voor pakjesbelevering reduceert verkeer: “Liefst 21% minder bestelwagens in de wijk”” (“Test with city hub and cargo bike for parcel delivery reduces traffic: “No less than 21% fewer vans in the district””) [link].

Mechelen is one of three cities — alongside Leuven and Ghent — participating in the Flanders Living Lab. With plans to introduce low- and zero-emission zones for urban freight, the city is eager to explore ways to make logistics more sustainable and efficient. As part of the project’s first demonstration phase, 60 residents from Mechelen’s Tervuren district participated in a 3-month pilot. Their online purchases were delivered to a central CityHub, where they could choose from various delivery options via the Logistics-as-a-Service (LaaS) platform. The goal was to maximize delivery bundling, reducing vehicle movements and kilometers traveled.

The articles highlighted the pilot’s success, noting a 21% reduction in van traffic thanks to bundled neighborhood deliveries and shared time slots. This, combined with centralised package collection and eco-friendly transport by cargo bikes, leads to lower emissions and reduced nuisance for residents. The overwhelmingly positive response from participants suggests the approach’s scalability, with Mechelen now exploring future collaborations with local and national logistics players.

Driving Sustainability: transforming last-mile delivery in Athens through GREEN-LOG

Author: Panagiotis Kanellopoulos / ACS

 

Urban logistics is evolving rapidly, with sustainability driving the shift towards greener, more efficient delivery systems. The GREEN-LOG project, a Horizon Europe initiative, is leading the way by reimagining last-mile logistics through innovative, real-world solutions. The Athens Living Lab provides a dynamic testing ground where logistics providers, city authorities, and technology partners come together to tackle pressing urban logistics challenges.

In Athens, ACS Postal Services has partnered with FedEx and DAEM (City of Athens IT Company) to explore solutions that improve delivery efficiency while minimising environmental impacts. A major focus of the collaborative efforts has been the deployment of a shared micro-consolidation center (MCC) and the integration of smart lockers for last-mile delivery. These innovations reduce vehicle trips, alleviate urban congestion, and offer customers greater flexibility in receiving their packages.

One of our pilot’s standout features is the use of a white-label electric vehicle, shared between ACS and FedEx. This shared resource represents a significant step forward in promoting zero-emission delivery modes while fostering collaboration between logistics service providers. By utilising the MCC as a local hub, we streamline parcel distribution to lockers and delivery addresses across this congestions area of Athens, reducing the carbon footprint of our operations.

 

 

Figure 1. Shared logistics routing in Athens urban area

 

ACS’s role in the project is not only about technological implementation but also about data-driven decision-making. By working closely with research partners such as the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), we analyse GPS and routing data to optimise delivery routes, quantify emissions reductions, and enhance urban delivery reliability. This data-driven approach ensures that the solutions we develop are scalable and adaptable to other European cities.

Beyond logistics, GREEN-LOG emphasises societal impact. ACS alongside other partners in the Athens Living Lab actively engages with the local community and stakeholders to ensure these innovations are widely accepted and aligned with citizens’ needs. The aim is to demonstrate that sustainable logistics can coexist with operational excellence.

Through GREEN-LOG, the consortium is paving the way for a greener, more efficient, and inclusive future for urban logistics — showing how collaborative innovation can make sustainable urban mobility a reality.

Photo credits: ACS