Green Logistics Development Decision-Making: Factor Identification and Hierarchical Framework Construction

The influential factors of green logistics development have been an important research topic for academics. However, little attention has been devoted to studying the issue of the prioritization and the hierarchical structure of these factors. The purpose of this study is to identify the key factors influencing the development of green logistics, and to explore the prioritization and the hierarchical structure of the influential factors. An indicator system for influential factors of green logistics development is first developed based on the theory of triple bottom line, including sixteen indicators or factors. The comprehensive influences and the prioritization of these sixteen factors are then analyzed using the DEMATEL method and the multi-level hierarchical structure of these factors is constructed by applying the ISM method. The results indicate that government policies, public supports, laws and regulations, green education, green technology innovations, consumer green demands, quantity and quality of green logistics talents are more influential than the other factors. Social factors including laws and regulations and government policies, public supports and green education are the underlying factors affecting the development of green logistics. Economic factors are at the middle levels and environmental factors are at the surface-level of the hierarchical structure. Recommendations are finally given to governmental agencies and business firms. These findings will be beneficial to promoting the sustainable development of green logistics.