Zalando launches last mile cargo bike pilot scheme in four Dutch cities

Zalando, one of Europe’s leading online fashion and lifestyle retailers, has started a collaboration with Dutch delivery platform Fietskoeriers.nl. Cycle logistics operator Cycloon, which operates on the platform, will deliver Zalando packages in the Dutch cities of Amersfoort, Nijmegen, Arnhem and Zwolle.

Marieke Snoek, Managing Director of Cycloon, sees a lot of potential in the pilot scheme. Not only in terms of commercial growth for her own business, but also in terms of the wider social and environmental impacts it could make: “We are very proud to be working with Europe’s largest online fashion platform, as our goal is to deliver as many packages as possible by cargo bike to make deliveries greener and more social. We hope the partnership with Zalando will inspire other important companies to make more sustainable choices, so our list of now more than 30 green cycling cities we serve can also grow.”

The pilot scheme fits into Zalando’s broader sustainability strategy – dubbed do.MORE. Zalando’s business operations, including delivery and returns, have been climate-neutral since 2019. Masood Choudhry, VP Logistics at Zalando, says, “Our vision at Zalando is to be a sustainable fashion platform with a net positive impact for people and the planet. This pilot reflects our vision and contributes to our ambition to further improve our customer experience in the Netherlands. We are happy to start this cooperation with Fietskoeriers.nl in selected cities to serve our customers even more sustainably on the last mile.”

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Zalando contacted The International Cargo Bike Festival in mid-2020 expressing an interest in deploying cargo bikes. ICBF Director Jos Sluijsmans explains: “We were only too happy to point them in the direction of some of the best cycle logistics operators we know – including Velocity Fietskoeriers and Fietskoeriers.nl. We’re delighted to see that they are now forming a partnership with Fietskoeriers.nl.”