Establishing creative solutions is central to meeting the logistics demands of the future, according to DHL.

Innovations that are focused specifically on the needs of customers and clients are likely to have the most success, according to the delivery company.

DHL Solutions and Innovations head Petra Kiwitt explained: "This need for creativity is confirmed by the many projects we have developed in our DHL Innovation Center together with partners from the business and scientific community, and which are now ready to be marketed."

She was commenting ahead of the launch of DHL's third annual Innovation Award.

This year's theme is Space for Solutions, with entries from young scientists and engineers being accepted until July 31st 2010.

The company indicated that submissions accompanied by a business plan have the greatest chance of winning, and emphasised the need for a practical and theoretical approach to an existing logistics problem.

Earlier this year, DHL Global Mail became the first mail service provider in the US to enable customers to send shipments with a net zero carbon footprint, as part of its GoGreen Carbon Offset service.