D4.5 | CodeZERO Toolset for Local Authorities

The rapid growth of e-commerce, coupled with urban densification and the expansion of on-demand services, has made last-mile logistics a critical concern for cities across Europe. While this sector underpins economic vitality and daily urban life, it also generates significant negative externalities, including congestion, emissions, and inefficient use of public space. Local authorities, traditionally treating logistics as a traffic-related issue, are increasingly recognising its cross-cutting relevance across land use, mobility, environmental, and economic policies.

The Toolset for Local Authorities responds to this need by identifying the key policy levers municipalities can mobilise to shape more sustainable and inclusive e-commerce logistics systems. The Toolset has been developed to bridge the knowledge gap and provide practical support to local authorities through:

• A structured overview of key levers that municipalities can activate, from regulating access through low- and zero-emission zones to planning infrastructure such as micro-hubs and unloading areas.
• State-of-the-art knowledge on policies, technologies, and approaches shaping sustainable urban logistics.
• Practical insights and case studies from European pilot cities, illustrating how interventions can be designed, implemented, and adapted to local conditions.
• References to existing tools and resources for deeper exploration and practical application.

The Toolset highlights interventions across both the ‘moving’ aspects of logistics (such as vehicle flows and access management) and the ‘fixed’ aspects (such as micro-hubs, unloading zones, and facilities).

Designed as a living resource, the Toolset will evolve with one future iteration to incorporate lessons from pilot city implementations, replication activities, and stakeholder feedback. It offers local governments a concrete reference to design policies that balance economic efficiency, environmental responsibility, and social fairness in last-mile logistics.