From policy to execution: cities as orchestrators of zero-emission logistics

Why now? · Point of view · 2 min read

Zero-emission zones and CSRD create urgency. But policy alone does not electrify a single truck. Cities that act as orchestrators, not only as regulators, will see zero-emission logistics arrive faster.

Policy sets the direction

Fit for 55, CSRD and zero-emission zones are shaping logistics policy across Europe. In the Netherlands, cities have been allowed to introduce zero-emission zones for city logistics since 1 January 2025. By spring 2026, 18 municipalities and Schiphol had done so, and around ten more had taken the decision or were investigating it.

For fleets, that turns access to the city into a commercial condition, not only an environmental one.

Execution depends on the market

Cities can set the direction for zero-emission logistics. Execution still depends on fleets, charging providers, energy partners, grid operators and suppliers working together. That is where most zones meet reality: grid capacity that isn’t there, suppliers that are hard to compare, and carriers that can’t carry the investment alone.

Real acceleration will have to come from the transport companies and from the municipalities, together.

“Policy sets direction. Market coordination delivers execution.”

EUlectrify

From regulator to orchestrator

Cities are in a unique position to coordinate. They know which logistics clusters serve their centre, they talk to grid operators, and they set the rules everyone has to follow. That makes them natural orchestrators of the regional ecosystem:

• Bundle demand across logistics clusters that serve the same zone, so suppliers see real volumes.
• Share infrastructure by planning (semi-)public and shared depot charging with operators and grid operators, instead of every company solving it alone.
• Procure smartly with procurement processes that are transparent, comparable and in line with public-procurement requirements.
• Measure impact by capturing CO₂ and ESG data as part of the process, not as a separate reporting exercise.

One shared sourcing backbone reduces duplication and speeds up compliance for everyone in the zone.