Keys to Promoting Green Logistics
The transport and logistics sector generates 14.19% of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Almost 90% of these emissions correspond to road transport, although the rest of logistics activities also have a growing weight in the environmental impact of the sector.
What Is Green Logistics
Green logistics refers to the set of policies and measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact caused by transport and logistics in all its facets of activity.
However, green logistics has a broader scope than transport, covering all processes, structures, systems, and equipment used in the transport, distribution, and storage of goods. It is about reducing environmental impact at all stages of the supply chain to achieve a reduction in energy consumption and emissions.
How To Implement Green Logistics In Your Company?
Currently, there is a wide variety of measures that companies can take to incorporate the criteria of sustainable logistics into their activity. Below we summarize the key aspects that allow us to achieve the desired balance in the field of “green logistics”.
Include Environmental Criteria In Procurement
Green logistics starts with the first step of the supply chain, i.e., procurement. It is possible to reduce the environmental impact of goods with criteria such as the choice of proximity suppliers that reduce the distance traveled by raw materials or finished products. The search for manufacturers and suppliers that demonstrate responsible environmental management, and the requirement of efficiency in supply criteria. For example, using vehicles with full loads and sustainable packaging.
Creating More Sustainable Logistics Infrastructures
Unrefrigerated warehouses consume an average of almost 0.7 kW/h per square meter, a figure that shoots up in the case of temperature-controlled warehouses. There is ample room for improvement in energy efficiency in logistics facilities, from the general insulation of buildings to the sealing of loading docks and doors, as well as the consumption of handling equipment, lighting, air conditioning, ventilation, etc.
It is also highly recommended to consider the implementation of renewable energies, for example taking advantage of the roof to install solar panels for industrial self-consumption, to complement the efforts made in environmental logistics policies.
Digitalization And Automation Of Processes
Within the framework of the so-called Logistics 4.0, intelligent warehouses are being promoted, in which robotization and digitalization play a fundamental role. Although a priori it may seem that these technologies tend to increase energy consumption, the efficiencies they allow in the medium and long term make them essential for sustainable logistics.
Improve Inventory Management And Reverse Logistics
Once the supply policies, the design of logistics spaces, and the way in which they work within them have been influenced, the last aspect to be addressed is the rationalization of logistics services. It is about optimizing inventory management and the use of transport and distribution services Southern California through strategies such as:
- Cross docking: the process of cross-docking consists of minimizing the handling and storage of the merchandise, trying to leave for distribution on the same day it is received, in order to reduce the time spent in the warehouse.
- Outsourcing: Outsourcing logistics processes to an Orange County 3PL operator often improves their efficiency and sustainability. This is because, being specialized suppliers, they achieve economies of scale that companies could not achieve by themselves in the management of their logistics processes.
- Backhaul: it is about applying fleet management and route planning to complete the loading of a vehicle on each journey and avoid empty trips, taking advantage of for example the return trip for reverse logistics.
Finally, reverse logistics also offers a long way to strengthen sustainable logistics. Through the implementation of programs for the withdrawal of obsolete products, the reconditioning or reuse of them, the recovery of recyclable packaging, etc. a circular economy can be promoted that promotes “green logistics” or green logistics.