Ethical and Responsible Transportation and Handling (EARTH)
The "Ethical and Responsible Transportation and Handling (EARTH)" project was co-funded and implemented under the Erasmus+ programme, KA220-HED – Cooperation partnerships in higher education.
Aims:
The primary aim of the EARTH project was to enhance the innovation management and digital skills of logistics students and managers by integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their master's programmes and training. By prioritising the SDGs, the EARTH aimed to equip them with the knowledge and tools to effectively address global challenges while driving innovation within the logistics industry.
To achieve the project aim, the following specific objectives were pursuit:
- Build awareness, understanding, and motivation within academia and industry on how sustainability and the SDGs can be incorporated in the innovation process.
- Enable the speedy integration of sustainability into logistics innovation management programs for HEIs.
- Enable logistics companies to identify and benchmark their current innovation processes with respect to the SDGs and digitalization.
- Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing between logistics companies, universities, and industry experts.
Needs of the target groups:
EARTH has been carefully designed to meet the needs of five target groups, all within the sphere of innovation management teaching and the logistics transportation, and handling industry:
- Undergraduate and master's students in logistics, who need to understand the importance of sustainability in the logistics industry, learn how sustainability can be integrated into the innovation process, and become responsible proponents of sustainable innovation in the future.
- Heads of department, professors, lecturers, and teaching staff in higher education institutions, who require upskilling in the area of sustainable logistics innovation and need access to innovative pedagogical resources and real life tools that reflect the complexities of the logistics sector to enable them to integrate the SDGs and sustainability considerations into the logistics curriculum as well as indicate how digitally assisted innovation management process can support sustainable solutions implementation.
- Heads of department and teachers in vocational education and training institutions, who require similar resources and tools to those of higher education institutions to promote innovation management oriented on sustainability in logistics.
- Education and Logistics stakeholders interested in improving innovation management education supported by digital tools to implement sustainable solutions in the logistics industry, who need access to effective resources and tools to achieve this goal.
- Logistics companies, including managers and workforce, who need to innovate the sustainable sollutions and benchmark their current levels of innovation process with respect to the SDGs and digitalization.
The EARTH project is directly linked to adult education and focuses on the development and continuous upskilling/reskilling of individuals already active in professional and educational settings — specifically managers and employees of logistics companies, as well as teaching staff in higher education and VET institutions. The project strengthens key competences in innovation management, digital skills, and the practical implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the logistics sector. The delivery of project workpackages supports lifelong learning by building awareness and motivation for digitally assisted innovation management oriented on sustainability, facilitating the integration of sustainability topics into curricula and training programmes, providing tools for assessing and benchmarking innovation processes against the SDGs and digitalisation, and fostering long-term cooperation and knowledge exchange between education and business.
Results:
- EARTH Starter Kit: Innovation management digitalization for sustainable logistics. Practice & education guide
In an era where innovation management and digitalisation are key drivers of success, the logistics sector is undergoing a profound transformation. The EARTH Starter Kit is designed to help logistics professionals, businesses and policymakers navigate the integration of digital solutions and innovative strategies into logistics practices. This guide aims to inspire and support the teaching of innovation management and digitalisation within logistics, offering insights and strategies to help educators equip students with the knowledge and tools needed to drive sustainable change in the sector.
The journey towards sustainable logistics is complex but essential. This guide is intended to inspire and support stakeholders in the logistics sector in taking decisive steps towards sustainability and digital innovation management, contributing to a healthier planet and a more equitable society. Challenges can be transformed into opportunities for growth and innovation through coordinated action.
Starter Kit is available online in six language versions:
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/236/?tmstv=1772540981 - Danish
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/177/?tmstv=1772540687 - English
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/253/?tmstv=1772540983 - German
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/220/?tmstv=1772540978 - Italian
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/205/?tmstv=1772540790 - Polish
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/268/?tmstv=1772540988 - Turkish
- EARTH Good Practice Compendium: Innovation management digitalization for sustainable logistics. Business case studies
This compendium presents a collection of case studies from several European countries, each demonstrating innovative approaches to integrating sustainability with innovation management in logistics. The focus is on illustrating how digital tools support innovative processes that lead to sustainability in logistics operations.
The collection is a resource designed to inspire logistics companies, policymakers, and educational institutions by providing:
- insights into how innovation management catalyses sustainability in logistics.
- examples demonstrating the impact of innovative and digital solutions on enhancing sustainable practices.
- practical guidance on how to apply these innovative solutions to overcome logistical challenges and improve operations.
The document aims to deepen the understanding of how targeted innovation management can drive significant changes in the logistics industry, encouraging stakeholders to adopt and implement these practices.
Compendium is available online in six language versions:
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/239/?tmstv=1772540981 - Danish
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/182/?tmstv=1772540687 - English
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/256/?tmstv=1772540983 - German
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/224/?tmstv=1772540978 - Italian
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/208/?tmstv=1772540790 - Polish
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/271/?tmstv=1772540988 - Turkish
- EARTH Open Educational Resources
The EARTH Open Educational Resources (OERs) are designed to equip educators and learners with practical tools to explore innovation management and sustainability in logistics. The materials are structured into three progressive modules, each guiding learners from foundational concepts to hands-on application:
- Warm-Up Exercise
- Innovation Management Digitalisation and Sustainability
- Real-Life Challenge
Each module runs over several weeks and is supported by three core resources. Begin with the Teacher’s Guide for planning, then use the Slide Deck and Worksheets to deliver and deepen the learning experience.
Together, these materials form a flexible, pick-and-choose resource package tailored for higher education and vocational training. Whether used in whole or in part, and whether delivered online, in person, or in a hybrid format, the EARTH OERs allow teachers to customise their approach by selecting, adapting, and combining elements to suit their students’ needs.
Resources are available online in six language versions (Danish, English, German, Italian, Polish, Turkish):
Danish:
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/386/?tmstv=1772542542 - Instruction
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/392/?tmstv=1772542542 - Module 1
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/399/?tmstv=1772542542 - Module 2
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/407/?tmstv=1772542542 - Module 3
English:
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/359/?tmstv=1772542249 - Instruction
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/373/?tmstv=1772542249 - Module 1
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/375/?tmstv=1772542249 - Module 2
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/377/?tmstv=1772542249 - Module 3
German:
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/413/?tmstv=1772542664 - Instruction
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/418/?tmstv=1772542664 - Module 1
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/423/?tmstv=1772542664 - Module 2
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/431/?tmstv=1772542664 - Module 3
Italian:
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/515/?tmstv=1772543752 - Instruction
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/521/?tmstv=1772543753 - Module 1
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/526/?tmstv=1772543753 - Module 2
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/537/?tmstv=1772543753 - Module 3
Polish:
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/437/?tmstv=1772543824 - Instruction
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/443/?tmstv=1772543824 - Module 1
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/451/?tmstv=1772543824 - Module 2
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/456/?tmstv=1772543824 - Module 3
Turkish:
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/461/?tmstv=1772543902 - Instruction
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/465/?tmstv=1772543902 - Module 1
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/473/?tmstv=1772543902 - Module 2
https://innovating4earth.eu/download/477/?tmstv=1772543902 - Module 3
- EARTH E-Benchmarking Tool
Benchmarking platform is a digital tool designed to understand the level of digitalisation of innovation processes within an organisation, discover how development strategies can be more effectively implemented, and how IT tools can support this process. In addition, it allows companies to verify how the use of IT tools for innovation management supports efforts to take actions consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The audit is based on a simple survey mechanism, connected to a robust database and an automatic report-generation tool. A built-in solution enables comparison against other companies collected in the database in many individually contextualized comparisons. Users can track changes occurring in their own companies over time, thanks to account-stored data and multiple surveys.
The tool is available online in five language versions (English, German, Italian, Polish, Turkish):
