Systematic Review Analysis of Sustainability in Port Logistics Through Carbon Footprint of Container Terminals

Background: Container terminals are crucial nodes in global supply chains, but they also contribute significantly to environmental pollution. The analysis of sustainability in port logistics through carbon footprint offers crucial knowledge on how to reduce environmental impact in logistics. Methods: This systematic review uses a PRISMA-based research flow to extract key facts about energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2, which are still prevalent in terminal operations and logistics. Results: The paper analyses strategies and technologies adopted to reduce the carbon footprint, such as efficient infrastructure, electrification, automation, digitalisation, and AI-powered port logistics. It highlights the potential of sustainable logistics solutions, such as real-time cargo tracking, intelligent robotics and data analytics, to make container terminals more eco-friendly. Conclusions: Beyond analysing sustainability assessment models for the ecological efficiency and operational performance of container terminals, this paper highlights the need for future applied research into how investments in sustainable practices, as demonstrated by the most successful Asian port examples, can further reduce container terminal environmental footprint.