Sustainable business practices no longer seem to be a trend in 2014, but a must. Companies that have green high on the agenda thus automatically place themselves in a positive light. Companies that are not at all concerned with the climate risk losing customer sympathy.
In transport and logistics, there is already a lot of talk about clean transport, for example. Yet there are also gains to be made in the warehouse when it comes to sustainability. Here is how to make the warehouse 'greener' in five steps.
Tackle energy wastage
You can significantly reduce energy consumption in and around your warehouse by, for example, requiring lorries to switch off their engines when stationary. Develop standard procedures for opening docking station doors to ensure they are not left open for longer than necessary. You can also reduce energy wastage by ensuring that the office and warehouse are well insulated.
LED lighting or skylights
Replace older light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. Install motion sensors in the warehouse so that lights are only switched on when necessary. You could also consider fitting skylights in combination with lights that adjust their brightness according to the natural light in the warehouse.
Solar energy
There is already a lot of talk about it, and for good reason. After all, the hundreds of square metres on the roof of a warehouse often lie unused. A missed opportunity, because there is plenty of room on the roof for solar panels. It requires a substantial investment, but this will pay for itself through tax advantages and, of course, considerable savings on energy costs.
Involve staff and suppliers
You can implement all sorts of measures, but without involving your staff, few of those measures are likely to be put into practice. Give them tips on energy-efficient working practices and inform them about the new energy-efficient systems in the warehouse. Develop standard procedures for energy consumption. You can also influence suppliers’ emissions by choosing a strategic location for your warehouse. This will shorten the average journey distance and reduce emissions.
Focus on returns logistics
Returned products are often no longer saleable. By putting effort into repairing these products, you can prevent waste. Even when products can no longer be repaired, you can prevent waste by donating the items, taking them to second-hand markets or recycling their parts.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
