The planet Earth is endangered and it is up to us to make it feel a safe place to live on. The consequences from the climate change resulted with intense drought, rising sea levels, heatwaves, storms and warming oceans. Improper waste disposal, exploitation of the forests and farmlands for commercial use, excessive industrialization are just of the few examples that are contributing to the pollution of our earth.
But the main and largest sources of pollutants that create carbon emissions are energy producing and transportation. The transportation sector generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily coming from burning fossil fuels for our cars, trucks, ships, trains and planes. With this responsibility in contributing to global warming, all businesses in transportation and logistics need to take action for controlling this pollution impacts.
Many leading supply chains and corporate entities are embracing sustainable logistics activities in order to minimize carbon footprint and adopting green practices. There are variety of opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with transportation and logistics:
1. Fuel switching - Using fuels that emit less CO2 than fuels currently being used. Alternative sources can include biofuels; hydrogen; electricity from renewable sources, such as wind and solar; or fossil fuels that are less CO2-intensive than the fuels that they replace.
2. Improving operating practices - Adopting practices that minimize fuel use. Improving driving practices and vehicle maintenance.
3. Reducing travel demand - Employing urban planning to reduce the number of miles that people drive each day. Reducing the need for driving through travel efficiency measures such as commuter, biking, and pedestrian programs
4. Real-time route optimization - Results in lesser miles driven and lower fuel consumption. Making the most of the active fleet in a single trip.
5. Sustainable warehouse management - Investing in energy efficient lighting and equipment.
6. Green packaging - Using eco-friendly materials for packaging and implementing paperless delivery. Recycle and reuse packaging waste.
Sustainable logistics aims to measure the carbon footprint of logistics operations and establish standard procedures of sustainability in the organization. Implementing a sustainable green system should begin with establishing the concept of eco-friendliness in your supply chain, defining what exactly ‘going green’ means for your business, and setting goals accordingly. Once a clear long-term plan is developed, it is important to get the support of your workforce from the ground up and instill the sense that working towards a green supply chain is a permanent business value.
