Reformation of the tender process for transport to support the growth of sustainable transport solutions

Abstract

Today 95% of the road freight industry is based on fossil fuels. There are successful implementations of sustainable transport solutions, however the progression has been slow. This thesis investigates the possibility that the slow advancement of the sustainable transport industry is affected by an inherent bias for fossil fuels in the transport tendering process used today. Hence, to support the growth of sustainable transport solutions a reformed tendering process, The WACK model, is developed in two steps. Firstly, The WACK model is derived from three existing procurement models. Secondly, guiding questions are developed from The WACK model to ensure a sustainability focus. To investigate the guiding questions a qualitative interview study is conducted followed by an analysis consisting of a gap analysis and a workshop. The analysis found three results that can adjust The WACK model to ensure a sustainability focus. These adaptations are: Knowledge exchange, Alternative measuring criteria and Dedicated tendering process. With the adaptations, The WACK model paves the way for the growth of sustainable transport solutions..