Logistics and warehousing businesses operate primarily to move goods around the country, which obviously creates a large carbon footprint. As the logistics and warehousing industries are major contributors to global emissions, it is more important than ever that businesses use innovative solutions to reduce their environmental impact. However, they must balance this with the need to boost efficiency and profitability in an already crowded market. It is possible, however, for logistics and warehousing businesses to go green. Here’s some insight into making your operation more sustainable.
Automation, automation, automation
Sometimes looked on as a bit of a daunting idea, automation isn’t about completely replacing human work. AI can help to optimise people’s workload by handling repetitive tasks. AI can work more accurately and faster and can help reduce waste and unnecessary energy consumption.
For example, automatic guided vehicles have been created that can move goods around your warehouse, and robotic systems can accurately and quickly fulfil orders. While this does obviously represent reduced labour costs, it also helps reduce energy bills as such automatons do not need excessive heating and light in large warehouses.
Obviously, you will need workers to oversee these processes, but your workforce can be deployed in areas that require more complex activities.
Smart warehouses
Creating a warehouse that is future proof means ensuring it is designed from the ground up to operate in a smart way. Not only does this mean smart lighting, automatic temperature controls, and smart door operations, but it also means technology that helps optimise your operations. Some warehouse management systems can help you to collect data on transportation routes, bottlenecks and inventory management. Using technology to adapt your movements of goods and persons can help save time and energy.
Look Up
One way in which two improve the efficiency of your warehouse whilst reducing the need to expand your footprint, is by using vertical space in your warehouse for extra storage. For example, installing a mezzanine floor with easy access via a lift can help you strategically increase your storage space whilst conserving resources that would have been spent on expensive and carbon heavy renovations.
Recycling
A fundamental part of a sustainable warehouse, the logistics industry generates a huge amount of waste. Packaging equipment such as shrink wrap and boxes, to metal frames for GOH containers can all be reused and recycled. Putting together a comprehensive recycling protocol can help you divert waste from landfill, reducing your carbon footprint.
Paper free
If possible, consider implementing paper free transactions. Not only can this save on paper waste, but a digital system is likely to be able to provide real time information on goods as they move through your operation. It is entirely possible for you to use cloud based inventory management software, which cannot only help keep track of the goods that you are moving and storing, but it can also help ensure every employee has access to the right data at the right time without having to share paperwork.
Keep moving
One eye should always be on the future when it comes to making your warehouse and logistics operations greener. As technology advances, and more innovations are developed to help reduce waste and improve the efficiency of many industries, sustainability is not a one-stop approach.
Whether you survey your employees to help generate ideas to reduce your environmental footprint, or have specific research projects into new technologies or innovations in warehousing logistics, fostering a culture of continuous improvement can only be of benefit to your operation.
Making your logistics and warehousing operations greener is not just helpful for the environment, it can actually improve your business. From the increased productivity you’ll have by automating some processes, to the improvements in your brand reputation as a known supporter of greener working, there’s really no excuse not to consider creating a greener operation.
