Environmental and sustainability concerns are on everyone’s mind in the logistics industry. In fact, nearly every supply chain and logistics company has created environmental policies that reflect its mission and goals. As the world strives to create a more eco-friendly, carbon-neutral environment, it’s important to understand the logistics industry’s role in achieving that goal. Here are a few tips for reducing your carbon footprint in logistics.
Select Green Suppliers
Selecting greener suppliers is a great first step towards reducing your carbon footprint in logistics. Choosing raw materials directly affects the environment as each material can have a vastly different carbon footprint. Before selecting raw materials, do some research on the supplier’s energy consumption, waste, and emissions. Keeping track of these vital environmental metrics can go a long way.
Optimize Your Supply Networks
Global supply chains often involve large supply networks that require air and ocean transportation. These modes of transportation largely contribute to greenhouse gas emissions which negatively impact the environment. Although there is no way to eliminate these transportation modes, it is possible to optimize your routes and consolidate your supply networks across shorter distances. This proves to be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.
Use Eco-Friendly Transportation Options
There is more than one way to get from point A to point B. If a logistics provider only offers one mode of transportation, your options are limited. What if that’s not the most efficient route or mode of transport? Look for a company that offers a broad portfolio of services so that you can take advantage of the most eco-friendly transportation options. A good logistics provider will partner with carriers or organizations (like SmartWay Transport) that keep sustainability in mind.
Sustainability Through Technology
Having the right data at your fingertips is crucial for achieving carbon footprint reductions. Whether it’s through data evaluation or macro-level data consumption, technology can identify savings opportunities by completing optimization studies to find out the best way to distribute products efficiently. With technology’s importance growing in the supply chain, understanding how to utilize it can supplement your sustainability initiatives.
You should not underestimate the importance of reducing your carbon footprint in logistics. With more customers choosing green logistics partners that align with their beliefs, businesses should start with small, impactful steps to reduce their carbon footprint. Ultimately, there are more advantages of sustainable logistics in the long run.
As a part of our sustainability initiatives, Logistics Plus is proud to be the first corporate sponsor to enroll in the Restoring Integrity To The Oceans (RIO) Plastic Neutrality Program. Read the news release here for more details.
