European logistics is at a crossroads, with rising sustainability expectations, evolving regulations, and increasing demand for faster, more reliable delivery. Staying ahead means embedding responsibility, efficiency, and foresight across every part of the network, balancing sustainable, compliant operations with speed and reliability. Here are three trends shaping both the broader logistics landscape in 2026 and how DANX Carousel is responding.

Trends driving change in European logistics

Sustainability – a core logistics strategy

Sustainability is central to how logistics networks are designed and operated. DANX Carousel Group has committed to ambitious environmental goals: a 40% reduction in emissions by 2035 and 90% by 2050, underpinned by a clear ESG framework guiding operations across Europe.

This commitment is reflected in several practical measures:

Cleaner transportation networks: Alternative fuels such as bio-methane and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) are being rolled out across linehaul operations, while electric vehicles increasingly serve urban last-mile deliveries.
Transparency and reporting: Regular greenhouse gas (GHG) emission tracking ensures that improvements are measurable and actionable.
Operational planning: Route, network, and modal decisions, from road to rail, are evaluated with emissions in mind, ensuring that sustainability decisions are integrated into everyday logistics rather than applied retroactively.

Our sustainable development goals act as a foundation for more eco-friendly logistics across the group. Sustainability will continue to be a leading trend in logistics for the foreseeable future, as our services evolve each year to provide better, more sustainable transportation of goods across Europe and the rest of the world.

Battery logistics: navigating regulation and compliance

The EU introduced the Batteries Regulation (EU 2023/1542) in 2023 to harmonise safety, sustainability, and traceability requirements for batteries across member states.

The regulations mean an increase in:

Safety and risk management: Batteries are classified by energy density and chemistry. Enhanced testing, documentation, and traceability reduce the risk of incidents and associated costs.
Digital tracking and e-passports: Emerging regulatory requirements for battery passports enable traceability across the supply chain, increasing transparency and customer confidence.

This trend is still relevant in 2026 because practical differences in interpretation and ongoing phased implementation mean that consistent application remains critical for logistics providers. DANX Carousel Group CEO Klaus Rud has called for harmonised EU standards that balance safety with operational efficiency, recognising that consistency simplifies compliance, reduces costs and improves reliability across the network. We will continue to monitor and adapt to these developments in 2026.

Greener, smarter last-mile delivery

Sustainability in logistics is most visible in cities, where dense traffic, tight delivery windows, and environmental pressures collide. We’re responding with practical, eco-friendly urban logistics solutions that reduce emissions while keeping deliveries reliable.

Key initiatives include:

Electric and low-emission fleets: EVs and biofuel-powered vehicles are increasingly deployed for last-mile deliveries in urban areas, cutting CO₂ emissions and reducing local air pollution.
Route optimisation and consolidation: Deliveries are planned to minimise mileage, reduce congestion, and combine multiple shipments wherever possible, ensuring efficiency and lower environmental impact.
Flexible collection and drop-off points: Staffed and locker-based PUDO networks in city centres allow customers and service teams to collect or return items without requiring multiple doorstep deliveries.

By combining greener vehicles with smarter urban routing and collection models, we ensure that city logistics are faster, cleaner, and more predictable. Further demonstrating that sustainability can be embedded into daily operational decisions.

We’re ready for the year ahead

Logistics in 2026 is about rethinking how goods move, the impact of those movements, and the systems that make them reliable. For the DANX Carousel Group, success is achieved by blending sustainability, regulatory foresight, and operational efficiency into a single, resilient strategy that benefits customers, communities, and the environment alike.