Bærum Kommune Sets the Standard: Transforming Transport at the Source

Norway has been widely praised for its adoption of electric vehicles with 88.9% of all new passenger cars sold in Norway in 2024 being fully electric, and 72% increase in heavy vehicles. Ingeborg Briseid Kraft, Head of Transport Transformation Projects at Bærum Kommune, says this is not enough. Bærum Kommune, one of Norway’s largest municipalities, is setting a powerful precedent for sustainable logistics and efficient transport management. They are on a mission to address broader community challenges like traffic congestion and overall transport inefficiency to make a lasting difference, not just superficial.

Beyond Electrification: Harnessing Data for Greater Efficiency

"Electrifying vehicles doesn't resolve underlying congestion or inefficiencies," Kraft notes. "We need smarter logistics practices to reduce the overall number of vehicles." Kraft leads a comprehensive logistics initiative that targets reduced emissions and enhanced efficiency through improved procurement, consolidated deliveries, and shortened supply chains.

Pioneering New Logistics Data Guidance

In partnership with four surrounding municipalities, the County, Standard Norge, Kinver, and multiple public and industry stakeholders, Bærum Kommune is developing new logistics data guidance.This initiative standardises how logistics data is requested and utilised in public procurement, offering practical tools to municipalities nationwide for enhanced transparency, optimised operations, and significant reductions in environmental impacts.

Given Bærum's size and influence, this initiative is expected to have significant ripple effects, encouraging widespread adoption across other municipalities in Norway.

Kinver’s Strategic Contribution

Kinver plays a crucial role as a knowledge partner, introducing global logistics data standards such as the "iLEAP" data exchange framework. Karsten Kopland, Chief Product Officer at Kinver, emphasises, "This collaboration ensures Norwegian municipal logistics practices align with international standards, positioning Norway at the forefront of sustainable logistics."

Addressing Hidden Transport Challenges

Kraft identifies a significant challenge with the prevalent "delivery duty paid" contracts, which obscure true transport operations and their environmental impact. Bærum Kommune is developing robust systems to collect comprehensive transport data, enabling transparency and informed procurement decisions.

Fornebu HUB: A Model for Consolidation

Bærum’s successful Fornebu HUB pilot demonstrates clear operational and environmental benefits of consolidated logistics operations. This model is already inspiring other municipalities to implement similar urban consolidation centres, highlighting its scalable potential.

Find more information on the Forenbu HUB here: www.fornebuhub.no

Enhancing Supplier Collaboration

Effective collaboration with suppliers is a key focus for Bærum Kommune. Kraft explains, "Supplier collaboration is essential for transparency and efficiency. Suppliers readily see the operational and environmental benefits of consolidated deliveries."

Future Policy Directions and Sustainability

Looking forward, Kraft anticipates the increased incorporation of sustainability criteria in public tenders, stronger incentives for sustainable logistics, and expanded public-private partnerships. These measures will drive substantial progress towards Norway's ambitious sustainability targets for 2025.

Comprehensive Supply Chain Management

Kraft's advice for logistics leaders is clear: "Focus beyond electrification. Real sustainability demands a comprehensive view of the entire supply chain, backed by transparent, accessible data."

Through its holistic, data-driven approach, Bærum Kommune not only improves local community outcomes but also sets a national benchmark, encouraging broader adoption and impactful sustainability initiatives across Norway.

Bærum Kommune Sets the Standard: Transforming Transport at the Source

As Norway’s largest municipality, Bærum Kommune is leading a new wave of sustainable logistics reform that goes far beyond electric vehicles. While Norway continues to top the global charts in EV adoption—88.9% of new passenger cars sold in 2024 were fully electric, and 72% of new urban buses are now electric—the focus is expanding. Ingeborg Briseid Kraft, Head of Transport Transformation Projects in the Oslo region, believes electrification alone cannot solve deeper challenges like congestion, inefficient logistics, and fragmented procurement practices.

"Electrifying fleets is important, but it’s not enough," says Kraft. "To really move the needle and improve our communities, we have to rethink how goods move through our cities in the first place."

Growing Challenges: Complexity, Congestion, and Cost

While consumer EV uptake has surged, the commercial logistics sector is now under pressure to catch up. But simply transitioning to electric trucks won’t fix traffic bottlenecks or reduce the sheer volume of deliveries clogging urban centres. For municipalities, the logistics question isn’t just environmental—it’s operational and financial too.

Many public entities still rely on outdated transport agreements that obscure the real cost of deliveries. Kraft explains: "With 'delivery duty paid' contracts, we have no idea what we’re spending on transport—or how many trips it takes to get things done. It’s inefficient and unsustainable."

The Solution: Bærum’s Data-Driven Logistics Programme

To address these challenges, Bærum Kommune is pioneering a holistic programme to reduce emissions and improve efficiency at the source. The initiative focuses on three main levers:

• Smarter Procurement: Introducing sustainability requirements and transport data visibility into RFQs.
• Consolidation Centres: Centralised delivery hubs to reduce the number of trips and trucks.
• Shorter Supply Chains: Encouraging local sourcing to minimise transport distances.

Kraft leads the effort across departments and supplier networks. "We’ve realised that logistics isn’t a separate issue. It’s woven into procurement, budgeting, and community planning," she says.

Standardising the Approach: National Guidance in Progress

In collaboration with four surrounding municipalities, the County, Standard Norge, Kinver, and other stakeholders, Bærum is co-developing a new logistics data guidance document that will serve as a national model. It aims to help municipalities standardise how they request and manage logistics data from suppliers.

Unlike formal standards that can take years to adopt, the guidance model is faster to implement and already gaining traction. Kraft hopes it will become a key reference in municipal RFQs across Norway.

Kinver’s Role: From Technical Expertise to Strategic Influence

Kinver is contributing as a core knowledge partner in the development of the guidance. Their role includes introducing global logistics data frameworks—like the iLEAP data exchange—to ensure Norwegian municipalities align with international best practices.

Karsten Kopland, Chief Product Officer at Kinver, explains: "We’re here to make the data practical. What Bærum is building has widespread impact—it has the potential to change how the entire public sector approaches emissions, spending, and supply chain design."

Karsten Kopland, Chief Product Officer at Kinver, explains: "What we’re doing alongside Bærum is about more than just making data practical. It’s about shaping how municipalities across the country—potentially even internationally—use logistics insights to make smarter procurement decisions, reduce emissions, and improve community infrastructure. What Bærum is building isn’t just for them—it has the potential to change how the entire public sector approaches emissions, spending, and supply chain design." 

Proof of Concept: Fornebu HUB Pilot

One of the flagship projects under the initiative is the Fornebu HUB, a local urban consolidation centre launched by Bærum Kommune. It’s already received national recognition, including ZEROs Climate Award, and has sparked interest from at least five other municipalities looking to replicate the model.

The pilot shows that consolidation doesn’t just cut emissions—it streamlines operations. "Suppliers see the benefits immediately," says Kraft. "It’s easier, more efficient, and better for everyone involved."

Improving Supplier Collaboration

The success of this initiative depends on better data and closer partnerships. While some suppliers readily provide transport data, others remain hesitant. Kraft believes this is largely a cultural issue.

"We’ve had suppliers’ hand over full datasets within the day, while others refuse to share anything. Transparency is still not the norm," she explains. "We need clearer communication, mutual goals, and shared incentives."

What Comes Next?

The guidance is still being refined, with Kinver’s ongoing support and master mind workshops already underway. Meanwhile, Bærum continues building its internal systems for data capture and analysis.

With visual dashboards now showing the cost and frequency of deliveries, Kraft expects the pace of change to accelerate. "You can’t argue with the data. Once you see what’s happening—and what’s possible—it becomes much easier to act and prioritise."

A Model for Municipalities Nationwide

As other municipalities begin exploring similar approaches, the ripple effects of Bærum’s leadership are being felt. The guidance and pilot projects offer a practical, scalable roadmap for cities that want to reduce emissions, improve supplier relationships, and optimise community logistics.

Kraft’s final message? "Stop focusing only on electric vehicles. The real opportunity lies in how we organise our supply chains. That’s where change starts."

Through data, collaboration, and practical reforms, Bærum Kommune is reshaping how sustainable logistics can—and should—work for communities.

Read more about Bærum Kommune here: https://www.baerum.kommune.no/.