How To Make Your Logistics More Sustainable

Julie Starr • Aug 16, 2021



Climate change has been affecting the planet at an increasingly alarming rate. While countless factors are driving that, part of it is how companies operate. The logistics behind these firms can be wasteful and generate a lot of carbon dioxide.

While you might think that that’s the cost of doing business, it doesn’t have to be. You could take advantage of sustainable logistics. If this is an unfamiliar term to you, then you’ll want to know what it is and how it can benefit you.

Coupled with that, you should find out how to make your logistics more sustainable. Though you could choose certain fuel sources, such as Tri Gas & Oil , there are multiple other things that you can do.

But first, it’s worth looking at what sustainable logistics actually is.

What Is Sustainable Logistics?

It’s been estimated that the world’s population will grow significantly in the next few decades. That’ll lead to a steady, if not sharp, increase in demand for goods and services. That will have just as much of an increase on the environment, thanks to the logistics of many companies.

Unless supply chains are made more sustainable, this rise will lead to a larger impact on the environment. With that, climate change will affect people much more than it is now. Companies need to adapt their supply chains to minimize that impact on the environment.

The process of achieving that goal is what’s known as sustainable logistics.

Why Is It Important?

You might be wondering why sustainable logistics is important. A lot of this could be related to e-commerce, which has boomed over the past few years. More people ordering online has led to more deliveries being made.

That’s resulted in more of an environmental impact than ever, with changes showing no signs of slowing down. Making your logistics more sustainable dampens – if not outright removes – the impact that your company will have.

There are several other reasons why many companies, especially e-commerce ones, are trying to make their logistics more sustainable . The largest of these are:

  • Customers focus more on a product’s or service’s sustainability before buying;
  • More governmental mandates are coming in focusing on the issue;
  • More employees are demanding that their employers are environmentally friendly.

With those in mind, it might be mandatory to reduce the environmental impact your company has. If it isn’t, then it might be in the years to come.

Tips For Making Your Logistics More Sustainable

Make Use Of Your Data

There’s a lot involved in logistics and the supply chain, meaning there’s a lot to manage. There’s also a lot of information being taken in, even if you’re not doing so intentionally. Drivers can tell you, for example, what times people are unlikely to be home for deliveries.

Factors like these, which require multiple trips for one delivery, affect your company’s carbon footprint. Using the data that comes in means that you can optimize your operations. That means putting in reporting and tracking tools, although that’s something many firms should do anyway.

With these, you can determine the best time to arrange deliveries, optimize routes, and much more. These will make your logistics network more sustainable. You can also optimize for profitability at the same time, should this match up with your sustainability goals.

Get Closer To Your Customers

If you’re based close to your customers, then you won’t need to travel too far to deliver to them. While that isn’t always an option, you could consider pop-up warehouses. These specifically target last-mile deliveries, which can often be the least environmentally friendly aspect of a delivery.

Pop-up warehouses minimize this, as you can make multiple local deliveries from the same warehouse. Not only does this make deliveries more sustainable, but customers don’t have to wait too long for a delivery. You can also be more flexible with your delivery schedule.

That makes it a win-win for everybody involved.

Optimize Your Sites

If your business has multiple sites, then it could have a large environmental impact. If you need to deliver between them regularly, then that will make the issue worse. Optimizing your workplaces and any deliveries between them should be a priority.

There are multiple areas that you can focus on, depending on your industry. Analyzing routes and delivery times should be your first step, as you can optimize for fuel consumption and other factors.

You should also look at the equipment you use. Could this be upgraded to make it more fuel-efficient? Will making changes streamline the production and delivery process? Are there any areas where you can cut down on carbon emissions?

Answering these questions and implementing potential solutions should be your first step in making your logistics more sustainable. You should see this as an ongoing process, as you can find more areas to improve the more you look.

Add IoT Devices For Minor Improvements

The Internet of Things (IoT) has made doing business much easier across multiple industries. That’s only when properly utilized, however. Depending on what industry you’re in, these can vary. There are several areas that the IoT can help you make your logistics more sustainable.

Many of these revolve around reducing fuel consumption. If a vehicle averages 80km per hour, for example, it could save on 10% of fuel. Making sure your tire pressure is optimal can also have an impact on your fuel consumption.

How to optimize these can vary depending on exact circumstances. Utilizing the IoT will help you track and analyze different areas, letting you optimize for sustainability. You should also save on money with these, especially when it comes to fuel costs.

Wrapping Up

There are multiple reasons why you should make your logistics more sustainable. These can revolve around increased sales and revenue, as potential customers will be more attracted to your company. The same can be said for potential employees, giving you greater access to a wider talent pool.

That’s without mentioning the environmental benefits that it will offer. While you might have to put an upfront investment to accomplish this, it’ll be worth it in the long term. Once you know how to make your logistics more sustainable.

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • 07 Oct, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.

3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

By Julie Starr • 04 Oct, 2024
Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.
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