Purpose: Sustainability has become an important aspect for improving logistics, and the development ofmore sustainable logistics operations calls for innovative thinking. The purpose of this study isto explore how the sustainable logistics innovation (SLI) process is managed by some retailersand LSPs in order to suggest a framework for describing and analysing the SLI process.

Design/methodology/approach: Literature on general, logistics and sustainable innovation processes is studied. A multiple-casestudy in five Swedish retailers and LSPs is conducted. With a pattern-matching approach, theSLI processes in the companies are analysed and a framework is suggested.

Findings: A framework for the SLI process is suggested and its differences from general innovationprocesses are highlighted, such as the use of 3BL business cases. It shows the characteristics ofthe SLI process and which actors that are involved. The SLI process can vary largely and stillgenerate SLIs. However, managerial improvement potentials were found in several phases ofthe process.

Research limitations/implications: This study addresses the lack of empirically based research in logistics innovation and expandsit to retailers. It expands our knowledge into SLI, where the framework can be applied tostructure and understand SLI processes, and to identify improvement potentials.

Practical limitations/implications: Managerial implications are found in the limited customer involvement in idea generation andthe often “secret” way of evaluating ideas. As the companies can be seen as forerunners in SLI,managers can get inspiration by studying how the process is managed.

Originality/value: Very few studies are found in the area of sustainable logistics innovation.