The proliferation of e-commerce has modified consumer habits, resulting in a significant increase in packages circulating daily through cities. This trend has exacerbated urban traffic congestion and noise pollution, making last-mile logistics a crucial challenge for urban mobility and sustainability. In this context, and within the framework of the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law, which mandates the implementation of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in municipalities with over 50,000 inhabitants, the distribution of goods in urban environments is under scrutiny.
In response, the Spanish company Koiki, specializing in sustainable last-mile logistics, proposes an innovative model. Its approach focuses on proximity, emission minimization, and inclusive employment creation. This project is backed by Fundación Repsol, which has recognized its potential to generate a triple positive impact: environmental, social, and economic. Antonio Humbría, Investment Manager at Repsol Impacto Social, highlights that Koiki exemplifies the type of initiatives they seek, contributing not only to emission reduction but also to inclusive employment and competitive growth in the demanding last-mile sector.
Koiki redefines urban logistics by operating through a network of micro-hubs strategically distributed across cities. This proximity model, explained by Nerea Ortiz, Operations Director at Koiki, allows for optimized deliveries using eco-efficient vehicles, bicycles, or foot delivery, drastically reducing the need for large fleets and the entry of polluting vehicles into urban centers. Each micro-hub can manage between 60 and 100 packages daily, replacing the traffic of a conventional van and contributing to the improvement of urban mobility.
The progressive implementation of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) represents a significant opportunity for models like Koiki's. Regulations restricting the access of polluting vehicles to certain urban areas drive the adoption of proximity distribution models and micro-hub networks. These strategies align with public administrations' sustainable mobility plans, which aim to reduce congestion and minimize the environmental impact of goods transport. Koiki actively collaborates with city councils, such as with the Madrid City Council's Mobility Hub at the Canalejas parking lot, to develop more efficient and sustainable distribution models, particularly in medium and large cities required to deploy LEZs.
Sustainability at Koiki goes beyond emission reduction; it involves a comprehensive redesign of the logistics system. The company estimates that its current operations prevent the emission of over 600 tons of CO₂ annually per delivered package. However, its most distinctive feature is the social dimension. Koiki partners with social entities to manage its logistics centers and create employment for individuals facing vulnerability. Approximately 70% of its workforce has a disability, and the project also promotes employability for women at risk of exclusion. Logistics thus transforms into a tool for labor and social inclusion, fostering autonomy and long-term integration into the job market.
The collaboration with Fundación Repsol, initiated in December 2019 through Repsol Impacto Social, has been key to Koiki's growth. The foundation invested in the project's scaling potential and triple positive impact. Since then, Koiki's network has expanded from 30 to 41 centers in 24 Spanish cities, employing nearly 200 individuals from vulnerable groups. Expansion continues, with the goal of consolidating in current cities and entering new municipalities with LEZs, reaffirming proximity logistics as a fundamental pillar for improving urban quality of life and generating inclusive opportunities.
