Material Economy and Logistics 03/2023

The main purpose of this study is to demonstrate how modifications in the infrastructure of a railway carrier contribute to reducing the negative environmental impact, thus aligning with the principles of sustainable development. This study employs a combination of theoretical and empirical approaches. The theoretical aspect involves a literature review, which explores the theoretical aspects of sustainable development, as well as transport policy and the challenges of rail transport in Poland in relation to sustainable development. The empirical dimension is showcased through a case study of a railway carrier that has implemented changes to its infrastructure. The changes made have led to a reduction in the "dead weight" of trains. As a result, the carrier has increased its competitiveness while also generating environmental savings, thus supporting the implementation of sustainable development policies. The exploration of reducing the dead weight of trains in relation to the transported load highlights the need for further research. Future studies could focus on analyzing the innovative processes involved in implementing such changes or exploring the potential application of similar modifications in other modes of transportation.

Involvement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) is of increasing importance across different economic sectors, including transport industry. This study examines the relationship between CSR and efficiency of companies in the transport industry. It belongs to the type of quantitative research and extends the scope of research related to the subject of CSR and efficiency of companies in the transport industry. Whereas previous literature lacks empirical research analyzing the relation between CSR and efficiency in the transport industry, the present study aims to fill in this research gap. The study focuses on data for 2013–2015 period and on major transport companies in the USA, in particular those representing the air and road transport sectors. The paper is based on Data Envelopment Analysis method which is used to measure efficiency, while the Pearson correlation coefficient is used to detect the relationship between CSR and efficiency. The results confirm positive relationship between CSR and efficiency of transport companies. The paper contains further evidence on the relationship between individual CSR areas (social, environmental and governance CSR) and efficiency. This study can contribute not only as a recommendation for transport companies, but also as an introduction to further and more detailed research of the relation between CSR and efficiency.

Sand is a globally mined natural resource. It is applied, among others, in construction, because sand is one of the main components of concrete mixtures and a material used in earthworks. The aim of the manuscript is to organize the state of knowledge regarding the management of sandy waste generated in wastewater treatment plants and to indicate the possibilities of using this waste as an alternative raw material in construction applications. The main thesis is the claim that sand recovered in wastewater treatment plants, perceived as waste, can be an alternative for the global economy to obtain a significant amount of raw material for various uses in construction and to replace natural raw materials extracted for industry. The paper presents data on natural sand resources and its use, the effects of uncontrolled exploitation of the worlds sand resources and the potential of the Polish sand resource base. Particular attention was paid to the review of the possibilities of using sandy waste generated in wastewater treatment plants as an alternative raw material for natural sand resources. The practical applications of sand obtained in the processes used in wastewater treatment plants were also presented.

Short food supply chains are one of the recently reinvented types of food supply systems that are recognized as a notable sustainable approach. The purpose of this article is to identify short food supply chains (SFSCs) in practice, focusing on their types of initiatives, inter-organizational proximity, and logistics. The study aims to address the following research questions: 1) What are the dominant types of initiatives and dimensions of interorganizational proximity in SFSCs? 2) What key logistics aspects can be identified in SFSCs? 3) Which activities determine the performance of SFSCs? This paper comprises three main sections. Firstly, it reviews the existing academic literature related to the types of initiatives in short food supply chains within the context of proximity dimensions and logistics, as well as the contributions of SFSCs to sustainability. Following that, it outlines the empirical research methodology employed and interprets the findings obtained. Lastly, it highlights the theoretical and practical implications arising from the research.

The objective of this research is to determine whether the city under investigation in a developing country is pursuing a "circular city" model based on various indicators and the city's current characteristics. The city under analysis was Xalapa, the capital city of the state of Veracruz in Mexico. To accomplish our research goals, we employed a qualitative methodology. We conducted interviews with the government representative responsible for municipal solid waste management during the designated period, as well as with the proprietors of the 18 most prominent private waste collection centers. Additionally, we obtained relevant information from the government through the transparency platform. For our assessment, we utilized the waste-focused indicators provided by L. Girard and F. Nocca. Our analysis indicates that the city under investigation is not on the trajectory towards adopting a "circular city" model. However, the context of municipal solid waste (MSW) offers valuable suggestions for future implementation of circular economy (CE) practices. The findings presented in this study offer valuable insights for researchers in other developing countries who are also engaged in exploring the issues discussed. Also, the lessons derived from this study hold relevance for cities in developing countries, as they grapple with environmental and economic degradation similar to the city studied.

The paper presents the results of a social study relating to the awareness and attitudes of city residents towards the prospects of using autonomous vehicles as a means of urban transportation, including last-mile transportation. The main objective of the study was to find answers to the following questions: 1) what is the current state of city residents' knowledge of autonomous vehicles, 2) what attitude respondents have towards the phenomenon under study, 3) what determinants may foster acceptance of this form of transportation as part of daily mobility, 4) what scenarios for travel using self-drive cars are most likely at present. The source base consisted of contributions from 648 respondents qualified for the study based on the criterion of place of residence. Data analysis and interpretation were carried out using the SPSS package and using statistical tests. The results of the study allow us to draw the conclusion that the use of autonomous vehicles as part of daily mobility requires achieving a state of public awareness where the choice of autonomous transportation will become, for city residents, a conscious and desirable form of mobility in urban agglomerations, competitive to other modes of transport.

Cross-border railroads are a fast way to move to another country. Trains are a means of transportation with relatively low border crossing formalities. Currently, Poland conducts cross-border passenger rail traffic with almost all of its neighbours: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Lithuania. The worldwide pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has disrupted passenger transportation between countries. In Poland, it affected the schedules of trains running to neighbouring countries. The number of courses was reduced, and some routes were completely suspended. Cross-border traffic was also not unaffected by the war in Ukraine. The fundamental purpose of the article is to present an analysis of cross-border connections and to assess their quality, indicate the direction of change after the COVID-19 pandemic. The article examines the network of connections available at this point and discusses them in terms of transport accessibility. The results of the analysis will be used to compare rail connections with each other and, as a result, to identify certain relationships. The content presented will help to answer the question of whether cross-border rail after pandemic has undergone a significant transformation, and what is the direction of the observed changes. These considerations may inspire further research into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operation of cross-border rail crossings and connections between Poland and its neighbours.