Energy-efficient drone technologies and carbon-aware systems in sustainable supply chains: innovations, challenges, and policy pathways

Traditional logistics networks face increasing environmental pressure from carbon-intensive operations, prompting the need for solutions that balance efficiency and sustainability. This review synthesises academic literature, industry practices and case studies to assess how energy-efficient drone hubs, renewable energy integration and carbon-aware delivery systems enable low-emission, resilient last-mile logistics. Evidence from real-world applications, including UPS's solar-charged UAVs, DHL's warehouse drone pilots and Zipline's healthcare deliveries, indicates that renewable-powered docking stations and real-time route optimisation can reduce energy consumption by 54–84% compared with conventional methods. While these systems offer reduced emissions and improved service reliability, challenges remain, notably regulatory fragmentation, battery limitations and economic barriers to clean energy adoption. The paper proposes policy measures, such as streamlined certification and targeted subsidies, and highlights the role of decentralised energy systems and AI-driven fleet coordination. The findings provide actionable guidance for advancing scalable, sustainable logistics aligned with global goals such as the EU Green Deal.