On March 11-12, 2025, the second transnational project meeting (TPM) of the Green LaMiS Project took place in Passau, Germany. Hosted by the University of Passau’s CENTOURIS department, this gathering brought together project partners from four countries to discuss progress, share insights, and plan the next steps for this innovative initiative aimed at greening the “last mile” of home social services delivery.
Day one was focused on updates on key work packages (WPs) as follows:
- A common strategy and action plan based on carbon footprint calculations and territorial morphology indicators. This methodology will guide sustainable delivery practices across pilot cities.
- A review on progress on pilot activities in Bergamo (Italy), Szombathely (Hungary), and Klis (Croatia). These pilots aim to optimize service delivery through eco-friendly vehicles and improved organizational models.
- Communication strategy and tactics for the Green LaMiS project, outlining key guidelines, tools, and approaches to effectively engage stakeholders and promote the project’s goals.
- A Steering Committee session addressed the governance matters.
- Malteser Hilfsdienst shared their experience and contributions to sustainable home social service delivery. Their presentation highlighted both their extensive service network and their ongoing climate protection measures. Malteser emphasized their commitment to sustainability through practical measures aimed at reducing their environmental impact:
- E-Mobility Challenges:Transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) faces hurdles such as poor charging infrastructure, long charging times, and high investment costs.
- Implemented Solutions:
- LED lighting installations and green electricity usage.
- Digital route planning for outpatient care to optimize travel distances and reduce CO₂ emissions.
- Fleet modernization with electric vehicles
- Impact: These small steps collectively contribute to a cleaner future while improving service efficiency and reducing environmental harm.
The second day opened with a study visit, offering practical insights into local sustainable mobility initiatives (NEXT mobility initiative). The goal was to explore how findings from pilot actions could be integrated into existing urban mobility plans to ensure long-term impact. Later on partners focused on the workshop on refining pilot activities in Italy, Hungary, and Croatia.
Key Advancements of the Green LaMiS Program Highlighted in Passau
Progress in Pilot Actions
- Common Guidelines for Pilot Actions: A unified framework was finalized to guide pilot implementations in Bergamo (Italy), Klis (Croatia), and Szombathely (Hungary). These guidelines ensure consistency while considering local specificities, allowing for comparable results and stronger policy recommendations.
- Roadmap to Implementation: Key milestones were set:
- Completion of vehicle procurement
- Deployment of vehicles
- Evaluation of management systems to reduce travel distances
Advancements in Environmental Impact Assessment
- Baseline Analysis: A comprehensive baseline analysis was conducted using a newly developed carbon footprint assessment tool. This analysis provided insights into the environmental impact of home delivery social services (HDSS), establishing a foundation for future monitoring.
- Joint Strategy and Action Plan: The strategy focuses on key action vectors such as electrification of vehicles, optimized routing, and integration of green energy solutions. These measures aim to reduce CO₂ emissions and improve service efficiency.
Decision-Making Support Tools
- A detailed decision-making flowchart was introduced to assist municipalities in selecting appropriate vehicles and implementing sustainable management systems. This tool integrates data from the baseline analysis and aligns with the joint strategy to ensure informed decisions.
Focus on Sustainability and Policy Recommendations
- The pilot actions are designed not only to test innovative solutions but also to generate evidence for scalable policy recommendations. The diversity of pilot locations ensures that results will be adaptable to various urban contexts across Central Europe.
- A strong emphasis was placed on aligning project activities with long-term sustainability goals, ensuring that the solutions remain viable beyond the project’s lifecycle.
The meeting in Passau was instrumental in advancing the Green LaMiS project by providing a platform for collaboration, evaluation, and strategic planning.
The meeting allowed project partners to finalize the common guidelines for pilot actions, ensuring uniformity across the three pilot cities—Bergamo, Klis, and Szombathely—while respecting their specific territorial needs. This alignment will enable comparable results and strengthen the basis for future policy recommendations and sustainability strategies.
A structured decision-making flowchart was introduced to assist municipalities in selecting vehicles and implementing sustainable practices. This tool integrates baseline data, expert recommendations, and local needs to ensure informed decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
The meeting outlined a detailed roadmap for the coming months and the discussions emphasized using pilot results to generate evidence for policy recommendations. The diversity of pilot locations will provide valuable insights into how sustainable mobility solutions can be adapted to different urban contexts across Central Europe.
The Passau meeting reaffirmed Green LaMiS’s commitment to transforming the delivery of public home services through sustainable mobility solutions. By fostering collaboration among municipalities, researchers, and stakeholders, the project continues to pave the way for greener, more efficient service delivery models across Central Europe. It was a pivotal moment for Green LaMiS, enabling partners to align their efforts, refine methodologies, and set clear objectives for the next phases.The outcomes from this meeting in Passau will play a crucial role in shaping the project’s next steps, ensuring that its goals align with broader sustainability objectives.
As Green LaMiS progresses, partners remain committed to testing innovative solutions and building stakeholder capacities.
For more updates on Green LaMiS, stay tuned as we continue working toward a greener future for social service delivery!