Material Economy and Logistics 02/2025

An essential element of the transformation toward the circular economy concept is the management of packaging waste, in which consumers – through their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors – significantly influence the effectiveness of implementing circular solutions such as separate collection, deposit systems, and recycling. This paper presents the results of research on consumers' knowledge and behaviours regarding the management of packaging waste within the framework of the circular economy concept. The analysis, conducted on a representative sample of Polish adults (N = 1000), reveals insufficient ecological competencies among consumers and persistent incorrect practices that may reduce recycling efficiency. The findings highlight the need for targeted educational and informational interventions, tailored to diverse social groups, to enhance consumer engagement and improve the functioning of packaging waste management systems in accordance with the circular economy concept. 

The article presents a complaint handling system as a specific element of customer relations within the common area of logistics and quality management. Using the example of a selected industrial company, a quantitative analysis of complaints was made, paying attention to some aspects of logistics that influence contemporary quality management in industrial companies. Particular attention was paid to the complaint handling system, customer relations, and material and information flow processes. The main aim of the paper is to highlight the role of complaints as an element of producer communication with the market and to draw attention to the differences resulting from the customer categories.

This article presents the results of our own research on the impact of micromobility infrastructure on tourist preferences in Polish holiday destinations. The aim of the study was to identify the infrastructural elements important for the development of micromobility in resorts in Poland. Using a logistic regression model in a study conducted on a sample of 1000 respondents, six key factors influencing the perception of micromobility were identified. The strongest predictors of positive perception were: availability of bicycle and scooter rentals, infrastructure accompanying cycling paths, and road quality in the holiday destination. The results indicate that for the development of micromobility in tourist destinations, it is necessary to provide comprehensive infrastructure and take local conditions into account. This is particularly important in the context of the inverted mobility pyramid concept, the implementation of which requires understanding tourist preferences and gradually introducing solutions that limit the dominance of car transport in favor of more sustainable forms of movement.

24 February 2022 became not only the symbolic date of the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but also the beginning of an unprecedented international logistics operation aimed at transporting refugees from the border crossings in Przemyśl and Dorohusk to the entire territory of Poland and to neighboring countries. In a short time, it was necessary to implement extensive organizational activities, including the cooperation of all categories of rail carriers – domestic (long-distance and regional), local government, private and international (from the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Austria, Switzerland, among others). The coordination of the entire undertaking was entrusted to PKP Intercity, which on the day the conflict broke out established a crisis team responsible for coordinating the transport of refugees using the rolling stock of all available rail operators. These activities were carried out in cooperation with provincial and local government authorities in the country and in agreement with international partners. The involvement of rail infrastructure managers in Poland and neighboring countries was also crucial, which made it possible to maintain the current timetable despite the significant increase in the number of connections launched. In addition to regular passenger transport for refugees, special sanitary and humanitarian connections were also launched – these trains created a transport convoy for the wounded and deliveries of humanitarian aid to the border crossings with Ukraine. In parallel, a rail freight transport operation was launched, including deliveries of humanitarian and military support.

The paper presents the results of research on materials management and, in particular, on the supply of manufacturing companies. The research was conducted using an original survey questionnaire and covered companies operating in Poland. The issues examined included: assessment of the impact of effective cooperation with suppliers, estimated number of suppliers and the share of costs of raw materials and supply materials in the total costs of operations; competences of companies in the scope of: shaping relations with suppliers and capital links with them, analysis and assessment of supply risk, preparation for disruptions and irregularities in supplies, involvement of suppliers in the decision-making process in supply chains, application of selected concepts used in relations with suppliers and criteria for assessing strategic suppliers. Also taken into account were elements of risk in relations with suppliers, methods of its reduction and factors influencing failures in the implementation of tasks related to material supply. The research conducted was aimed at identifying and assessing the implementation of supply-related tasks in manufacturing enterprises in Poland.