What is sustainability in logistics ?

When we talk about sustainability in logistics , we are referring to the concept of “ green logistics ”.  

This term (also known as “ green logistics ”) is the set of measures that aim to reduce the environmental impact of transportation and logistics in all its facets of activity. Green logistics aims to achieve a reduction in energy consumption and emissions in this sector. 

Therefore, they are all those actions that aim to transform logistics strategies, as well as its structure, process and system, to create a more rational logistics process in terms of environmental impact and promote effective use of resources. 

Advantages of sustainability in logistics

Implementing sustainability in the logistics of your shipments has great benefits, both for the environment and for your business. Some of these are:

• More sustainable use of resources . This means a reduction in the use of means of transport.
• Decrease in waste production, since the packaging is not as polluting.
• Less noise pollution. The decrease in the use of constant transportation helps, in turn, reduce noise.
• Compliance with environmental regulations , which is an important prevention against possible sanctions.
• Reduction in logistics costs. Contrary to what many may think, sustainability in logistics involves a lower cost, thanks to better use of available resources.
• Reduction of energy consumption, and with this a significant economic saving on energy bills.
• Optimization of work processes, by increasing productivity.
• Increased employee well-being by working in healthier environments.
• Innovation and high competitive advantage over the competition, since sustainability in logistics is not implemented in all companies.
• Added value to consumers, since, by being respectful of the environment, it allows us to attract and retain more customers.

We can say that implementing sustainability in a company’s logistics can improve its public image thanks to the great results it generates.

How to achieve sustainability in the logistics of your business?

Now that you know what sustainability is in logistics and what its advantages are, you are surely wondering how you can implement it in your company. 

There is a wide variety of measures that companies can adopt to achieve logistics sustainability . From packaging to the routes taken, these are aspects to take into account.

Work on provisioning

To achieve good logistics sustainability , you have to start from scratch, from the supply chain, that is, procurement.

The environmental impact of goods can be reduced by choosing suppliers that are close to the delivery area, having manufacturers and suppliers that demonstrate responsible environmental management, fully loading vehicles before “hitting the road,” using sustainable packaging. , etc. In this way, we can divide this point into three key points:

• The packaging. Packaging generates a lot of waste: paper, cardboard, plastic… Against this, reusable materials can be used; that is, use ecological packaging .
• Transportation and distribution. Vehicles are one of the main sources of carbon dioxide emissions. To solve this aspect, it is necessary to reduce the number of transfers, replace the most polluting vehicles with other more ecological means of transport, as well as optimize routes.
• Recycling. As we told you, a large amount of waste is generated in the logistics process, so it is advisable to use recyclable, reusable or, failing that, biodegradable materials.

Create more sustainable logistics infrastructures

Warehouses are another element to consider. It is essential to have a good infrastructure that allows storing, transporting and loading merchandise without any problem. 

It is at this point that we can use renewable energies as a solution to the problem. These facilities need electricity, water, etc., which can be obtained from such renewable energies to reduce pollution. 

In relation to the above, although in the construction of logistics properties greater importance is usually given to its cost compared to efficiency, it is a point to consider. Likewise, the current high energy prices make investing in renewable energy a great option.

Digitize and automate processes

Another action that can be carried out to achieve sustainability in logistics is to have smart warehouses.

What does this mean? The choice is made to robotize and digitalize the processes. Although it may seem that this technological measure consumes more energy, in the medium and long term, it is quite the opposite. Because? Very easy: because more is produced in less time.

That is, on the one hand, robots produce on average faster than a human. And, on the other hand, by digitizing everything related to the company, we can gain space and time (since we easily find what we are looking for by following a route and having everything in order).

Use sustainable transportation

Before we mentioned that transportation is one of the most polluting factors to take into account. We explain that to reduce its impact, you can reduce the number of trips, optimize routes and replace the most polluting vehicles with others that are more environmentally friendly.

However, what are the most environmentally friendly vehicles? We can clearly distinguish 4 (and they surely sound familiar to you):

• Electric vehicles.
• Electric bikes.
• Electric scooters.
• Electric motorcycles.

At the same time, for deliveries you can also choose:

• Autonomous vehicles.
• Delivery with drones.
• Delivery robots.

Likewise, how can routes be optimized? All you need is good organization. Know in advance the transfers that are necessary, know the schedules and particularities of the clients, load the vehicles to the full, know in advance the most relevant data of the products that are going to be transported, control all types of relevant information about the trip ( for example, if it is refrigerated transport, be aware of the necessary temperatures for each leg of the trip), etc.

Reverse logistics

Finally, in sustainability in logistics , reverse logistics for waste management must also be taken into account. 

It should be noted that this type of logistics is understood as the process of returning the material to its point of origin for subsequent recycling and reuse. 

Therefore, some of the measures that can be implemented to achieve sustainability with reverse logistics are:

• Removal of obsolete products
• Reconditioning or reuse of the aforementioned.
• The recovery of recyclable packaging.

In summary, to achieve sustainability in logistics , we must be aware of the packaging, the transport used and the routes to follow, as well as achieve energy efficiency, optimize resources and manage waste. 

Implement sustainability in the logistics of your products

This trend towards more sustainable logistics with less environmental impact is becoming increasingly relevant.

Choosing to implement sustainability in the logistics of your shipments can give you a great advantage and make a big difference compared to your competition. 

Therefore, it is recommended that you have an external company to help you with this task. It is important that the partner you choose aligns with your expectations and needs.

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