Advancing last-mile logistics through digital, green and human-centered solutions in Poland

Purpose Purpose is to investigate the adoption of digital, environmental and human-centered solutions by Transport, Shipping and Logistics (TSL) companies in Poland and to analyze their impact on last-mile logistics performance, specifically focusing on operational effectiveness, risk management and product safety assurance. The study is grounded in the resource-based view (RBV), stakeholder theory and the triple bottom line (TBL), while also reflecting emerging Logistics 5.0 assumptions. Design/methodology/approach The study applies a quantitative survey of TSL companies in Poland, evaluating the adoption of digital, environmental and social solutions in last-mile logistics. Correlation analysis was conducted to test nine hypotheses linking these solutions to operational effectiveness, risk management and product safety assurance. Findings The results show that environmental solutions are the most developed, digital solutions are moderately implemented and social solutions are the least adopted. Larger and foreign-capital firms consistently outperform smaller, domestic enterprises, confirming the importance of scale and resources for sustainability-oriented innovation. Practical implications Companies should prioritize solutions that deliver both efficiency and sustainability, while policymakers can support Small and Medium Enterprises through financial incentives and collaborative platforms. Social implications By demonstrating how digital and sustainable solutions strengthen risk reduction and product safety, the study highlights the growing societal importance of greener, safer and more customer-centric last-mile logistics systems that foster consumer trust and community well-being. Originality/value This study integrates digital, environmental and social practices into a unified framework for last-mile logistics. Unlike previous fragmented studies, it simultaneously examines operational effectiveness, risk management and product safety assurance while linking Logistics 4.0 technologies with emerging Logistics 5.0 perspectives.