Urban goods distribution (DUM) is an essential activity for sustaining life in the city and has intensified and changed with the boom in e-commerce. In response to the pandemic, this type of commerce has risen by 43% in Barcelona, from 23 million purchases in 2018 to 33 million in 2020.

These data come from an analysis carried out right across the board, to gauge the reality and impact of goods deliveries in the city.

The analysis identifies three types of good deliveries: distribution to the city’s 96,000 commercial establishments (B2B); deliveries to consumers, with 1.6 million inhabitants in the city of Barcelona (B2C), and the range of services for both business customers and private consumers, such as waste collection, repairs, removals etc. (urban distribution services).

Other conclusions from the analysis highlight how goods deliveries are mainly carried out by private stakeholders which belong to a varied and highly splintered sector, with a big impact in terms of employment in the city and the metropolitan area alike. However, vans and lorries account for 23% of private traffic and are responsible for a third of PM₁₀ and NO_x emissions detected in Barcelona. In addition, these vehicles were involved in over 1,500 traffic accidents.

Cross-cutting and collaborative work for more competitive and sustainable activity

Based on this analysis, a new strategy has been designed to make goods deliveries more compatible with everyday life in the city, taking into account the impact in different spheres.

The goals include fostering commerce and improving the economic competitiveness of companies, optimising efficiency in deliveries, promoting clean mobility and reducing the negative effects of this activity such as noise, pollution and the excessive occupation of public space.

The EDUM 2030 sets out a roadmap with seven strategic areas for 2030. The first package of measures is now under way:

• Increase the use of pick-up points for online purchases.
• Expand urban goods distribution centres (CDUM) and get them out of public space (for instance, in municipal car parks).
• More flexibility in parking options for loading and unloading.
• Guarantee space for logistics which is better integrated into the urban layout.
• Reduce accidents and indiscipline in this area.
• Promote electric vehicle fleets and alternative energies, such as bike deliveries.

The DUM Data Centre has also come into operation and will bring together all the information collection and generated within the framework of the EDUM 2030, to help drive work on new proposals for action. The EDUM Data Centre is the prelude to the creation of the DUM Observatory, the seventh area in the strategy for 2030.

The strategy includes training for professionals in the sector and a communication campaign to introduce the DUM and promote responsibility among all those involved (citizens, establishments and delivery companies).

In order to work together with the various stakeholders involved in urban goods distribution and achieve the goals of the new strategy, the City Council has promoted an agreement with key economic and business associations in the city and the main trade unions organisations. Besides creating the observatory, a commitment has been made to create a coordinating board between all social and economic bodies and monitor the evolution of the goals.