EU Project ADMIRALEurope on the way to Green Logistics – EU Project ADMIRAL showcases four possible pathways

How can the logistics sector reduce its emissions while becoming more efficient at the same time? The EU project ADMIRAL (Advanced Multimodal Marketplace for Low Emission and Energy Transportation) takes on this challenge – with innovative technologies, 20 strong partners, and four hands‑on pilots across Europe.

As project partner, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum supports ADMIRAL activities through project communication, including promoting project activities and results to researchers, logistics end-users such as cargo owners, but also to non-professional audiences, raising awareness on the importance of greening logistics and pushing for a transition of the sector. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum is also guiding partners in the further use of project results – in the frame of the project and beyond, ensuring a sustainable impact. These activities include the development of business models, particularly regarding the commercialization of sustainable logistics services via a digital platform.

Freight transport in Europe accounts for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions. Until now, companies have primarily focused on reducing direct emissions from their own energy sources (Scope 1)—such as emissions produced by operating their own vehicles—and indirect emissions from purchased energy, such as electricity (Scope 2). However, indirect emissions occurring along the supply chain—for example, the transport of raw materials carried out by external service providers—have so far received little attention form logistics stakeholders as they are less transparent and more difficult to calculate.

By developing a digital “marketplace” for multimodal logistics services, ADMIRAL offers especially small and medium‑sized enterprises the opportunity to compare different providers not only in terms of price but also in terms of emitted emissions including both direct and indirect emissions, thus triggering them to make a “greener choice.”

A Digital Marketplace for Multimodal Logistics

The cornerstone of the project is the ADMIRAL marketplace for multimodal logistics services, a digital platform offering sellers the opportunity to promote their services, particularly low-emission options, and buyers the opportunity to choose a service based on a comparison of prices as well as emissions. To test emission‑reduced logistics services and demonstrate the platform, pilot projects were implemented in four European regions: Portugal–Spain, Slovenia–Croatia, Lithuania, and Finland.

Across the four pilot regions, various AI‑based and digital technologies are being applied to make logistics more efficient, lower‑emission, and collaborative.

Portugal–Spain: Establishment of a low‑emission logistics corridor between Sines (PT) and Madrid (ESP). Goal: Modal shift in transport from road to rail.

Finland: AI‑supported optimization of port processes in the Port of HaminaKotka – for more efficient warehouse planning and reduced CO₂.

Lithuania: Development of a transport planning tool to reduce idle times in road transport.

Slovenia–Croatia: Integration and cost/CO₂ optimization of the currently isolated postal and delivery traffic in Slovenia and Croatia through direct delivery routes, fewer empty trips, and transparent information on emission consumption.

Technologies in Use

• Artificial intelligence for planning and simulation
• Digital platform for multimodal logistics offerings
• CO₂ calculation based on eCMR data and telematics
• Transport planning tools with real‑time data

The project was carried out by a consortium of 20 partners from 9 European countries under the coordination of VTT. Partners include research institutes (e.g., LNEC, CERTH), logistics companies (e.g., CargoGo, Croatian and Slovenian Post), technology providers (e.g., Awake.AI, Trevio), and public institutions and port operators (Steveco, APS).

Funding: European Commission, Horizon Europe
Total budget for all partners: EUR 7,294,412
Participating countries: Germany, Finland, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain
Project duration: 05/2023 – 04/2026