Beyond reducing costs and gaining a good reputation, having a sustainable warehouse is a must for a logistics company because of the positive aspects it brings to the whole world, in terms of utilization of alternative energy sources and waste utilization.
If you are preparing for sustainable logistics, this information is of interest to you. Read on.
Surveys indicate that consumers prefer their deliveries to be more sustainable. In a 2021 study, Sifted indicated that out of 500 respondents, 91% want an eco-friendly delivery button and 57% are willing to pay additional value to have this option.
However, in another survey, parcelaLab investigated the behavior of 50 brands and concluded that 52% used plastic packaging for shipments.
This leads us to conclude that companies have a great opportunity to gain the attention of new consumers, who are looking for sustainable brands. For companies, this does not mean high costs; on the contrary, using less paper in packaging will help them save money.
Now let's see what other actions to take to achieve a sustainable warehouse and take advantage of this market niche.
Optimal functions in installations
In an article for 2021, the news site FreightWaves announced the five trends for sustainable warehouses, among which it included optimal facility functions, which refers to effectively using the components that make up a facility such as light, water, electronic equipment, etc.
To demonstrate a case study, Colgate-Palmolive found a very sustainable way to achieve a sustainable warehouse in Burlington, Canada, with a project that earned them a Leed Zero (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) award .
This project began in 2017 with the installation of solar energy to reduce the use of electricity and carbon. By 2025 it plans to have zero net carbon emissions and by 2030, 100% renewable electricity. A good example of what it means to have a 'green' vision.
Electric vehicles in a sustainable warehouse
Both outside and inside storage facilities, electric vehicles are used to gain efficiency. At Quick, we have done just that. We added to our fleet, vehicles that produce zero CO₂ emissions, generate less noise pollution, increase autonomy in kilometers, improve load capacity and contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint.
Transportation in logistics is one of the main generators of carbon emissions, a reason that has led many companies, like us, to join the green logistics initiative; a new concept that aims to implement strategies to protect the environment without affecting the operation.
And if we add Last Mile technology to electric vehicles, the benefits multiply, since having a transport management software makes it possible to control energy consumption, optimize travel time and much more.
Automation and wellness
As with transportation, in the warehousing process, the use of technology to automate some functions is an advantage for any business. It can streamline a process that was previously considered tedious and additionally, it is great for preventing accidents.
This is what happened to Frito-Lay when it implemented Kinetic technology, a hardware that can prevent accidents or occupational illnesses. With this technology and under the "Beyond Zero - Pursue Positive" program , Frito-Lay reduced work-related injuries by 19% and lost work hours by 67%.
Now, looking at it from an international perspective, the ISO norms contemplate 3 fundamental standards for any company to manage its business properly: quality (ISO 9001), occupational health and safety (ISO 45001) and the environment (ISO 14001). One more reason to take into account the well-being of both the planet and the employees.
Location and dark stores
A crucial point to have a sustainable warehouse is the location and it is here where dark stores or hidden stores play an important role. These are places where products are stocked and are usually located in urban centers where the highest number of purchases are registered. But unlike regular stores, dark stores are not open to the public.
Operationally, they are a good strategy to get the order to consumers in less time, thanks to the proximity of these stores to the delivery point, and in terms of sustainability they are also a brilliant plan.
At Quick, we already use dark stores for some of our customers, offering them speed and lower fuel consumption of the vehicles transporting the goods, thanks to shorter distances.
Recycling
We could not forget recycling, an activity so common at home that we sometimes forget to apply in companies because it requires organization. Below we suggest you follow these steps to carry it out without excuses:
- Identify the resources you have and how much you need
- Schedule a date to collect resources for reuse
- Separate waste by type for recycling
- Integrate the entire community that is part of your organization.
FEMSA, for example, has a recycling policy with its customers, collecting damaged products from stores and taking them back to distribution centers, demonstrating that it is possible to recycle, reuse and at the same time save operating costs.
Now that you know the ways to achieve a sustainable warehouse, it's time to put them into practice. Remember that sustainability starts with the workers themselves. Having a green culture that promotes recycling or the use of renewable energies is the first step to reach 100% 'green'.
