From early 2020 onwards, the world has been going through an unprecedented wave of lockdowns, shutdowns, and preventive measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is evident that these have been harmful for tourism, passenger transport, and the service sector in general. However, less is known regarding the implications for manufacturing and logistics, which is the purpose of this research. We concentrate on reporting survey findings from Northern Europe, and mostly from Finland. Based on trade accounts, it is evident that Covid-19 has had significant impacts on Finnish import and export. However, in survey responses, companies report that they have mostly been able to serve customers in a good fashion, and the pandemic has increased transportation costs only moderately. Inventories might experience an increase due to the virus, however, in the longer term they will likely remain at the earlier levels (or slightly increase). Companies are mostly afraid of the effects of the second wave of the epidemic, and are also already thinking about the long-term issues with transportation modes used together with supply chain dependencies. For example, the Chinese and, in part, Russian, markets are increasingly being served by railways during the current decade. For some companies (especially small and medium-sized ones) and foreign trade markets, however, the epidemic era has been very harmful. Therefore, as a conclusion we argue that the pandemic is causing rather asymmetrical impacts on manufacturing and logistics.

Purpose: Most OECD countries will have a considerable challenge ahead with an ageing population and necessary health care produced for retired people. Healthcare costs have increased continuously from the mid-1990’s in Finland, and growth is likely to continue in the future, as the amount of older inhabitants is increasing. Furthermore, transportation of patients and their visitors between homes and hospitals is a large component of the total health carehealth care related costs. This paper aims to estimate transport-related costs and develop ways to decrease these costs. Design/methodology/approach: A system dynamics simulation model was developed to examine different scenarios for patients and their visitor transportation to hospitals until the year 2040. Model is driven by age distribution of the region and likely by development of the total population. All parameter values were defined based on real-life observations. Findings: Patients’ need to travel to hospitals is likely to continue to grow. In addition, quality of travel will change as older retired people are not willing or able to use their own transportation equipment or public transportation modes – this is the main reason for higher transportation costs of patients. Transportation is typically conducted via taxis, private cars and ambulances. Therefore, it is critical that people from the region are able to access hospital services with short proximity. Research limitations/implications: Simulation study is limited to one hospital investment decision in Finland. Distances and population densities as well as transportation mode alternatives differ from more populous regions in the world. Practical implications: Research findings stressed the importance of keeping their own hospital operations within the region and placing them in a better location. In an alternative case, where a hospital decision would have been abandoned, total transportation costs during 2012-2040 would have increased by at least the same amount that a new hospital is assumed to cost. Originality/value: This research is one of the first from the health care sector, where patient transportation modes and ageing is being dealt with in the context of new investments. Patient transportation is often an overlooked issue, which bears significant costs, especially as people age.

Purpose: This research examines factors that determine the improvement of the Russian supply chain sustainability. The strategic business model incorporates ecological, social and economic aspects. Design/methodology/approach: Considering Trans-Siberian Railway as a typical case, the study selected several cases or the parts of the primary rail connection with the affiliation of important neighbouring countries. The study uses quantitative analyses of a variety of size parameters (e.g. volumes of traffic, logistics costs, delivery distance and air pollutants). Findings: The empirical findings stress that supply chains should favour in the future railway (or intermodal) connections for piggyback and containerised cargo. Herein lays the reason for the examination of all traditional factors affecting the modal choice and their complementation by the parameters to measure sustainability throughout the supply chains. The inclusion of the green practices positively affected the environmental, social and economic performance of the new approach. Research limitations/implications: This research focuses on the delivery of cargo in containers and semi-trailers within wagons through the overland corridors. Despite the restrictive empirical findings within the national transport system, some elements can be representative of the international supply chains, provided that intermodal services are the most appropriate for the transportation over long distances. Practical implications: Clients, media and regulatory bodies stress the consideration of environmental aspects at all stages of a global supply chain. Therefore, their adoption into strategic imperatives of local supply chains becomes inevitable. Originality/value: An assessment of supply chains for longer distance transportation in Russia has not taken sustainability into account within cost analyses.