Improving Sustainability in Your Warehouse

Julie Starr • April 6, 2022



If you operate a warehouse as part of your business, you might be wondering if there is anything you can do to make that arm of your business more sustainable. The answer is simple: yes it is totally possible to make your warehouse more eco-friendly.

If you are wondering how exactly you can do that, here are some of the most practical solutions we have found:

Invest in the best equipment

Things tend to get bashed around a bit in warehouses, which is why it is a good idea to invest in the highest quality fixtures, fittings, and tools you can afford, Whether it’s strong stainless steel APEX pallet racking or high-quality cold-chain doors for storing food, the better quality of the fixture in your warehouse, the less often they will need to be replaced and the lower your overall carbon footprint is likely to be.

Install high-speed doors

If you do not already have high-speed doors installed in your warehouse, it is one upgrade you might want to think about employing, You might think that installing electric doors is the exact opposite of being more sustainable when compared to a standard manual door, but high-speed doors open and close quickly and tightly, which means they keep more heat in. This, in turn, means you do not need to use nearly a smooch energy to heat your warehouse space, which is good for the planet and good for your bottom line too.

Install solar panels

A really easy way to improvise sustainability in your warehouse is to install solar panels which should be able to provide at least some of the energy you need to run operations. If it is not possible to do so for whatever reason, then at the very least, you should switch to LED lighting which is just as effective at illuminating the workspace while using as much as 50 percent less energy.

Install cold room doors

If there are any areas of your warehouse that are refrigerated, it is a really good idea to install cold room doors which will prevent the cool air from the refrigeration area from escaping and cooling down other areas, so that no energy is wasted either in keeping things cool in the refrigeration area or warm elsewhere.

Recycle

It doesn’t get any simpler than recycling your waste , and most warehouses will have lots of plastic packaging, cardboard reels, and all manner o metals that can easily be recycled, So, set up some recycling bins and start collecting anything you can conceivably recycle. Just make sure to check the regulations to ensure any materials you wish to recycle can safely be collected by your local refuse company. You may also want to set up a reward scheme to incentivize your employees to recycle by offering a prize for the best recycler or similar.

As you can see, improving sustainability in your warehousing business is pretty doable although you may need to invest some time and money into doing so in the first instance. 

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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