“Going green” has become a hot topic in the warehousing industry over the past decade, but what does “go green” mean? Simply put, green warehousing practices are designed to protect the environment by reducing waste, specifically greenhouse gas emissions.
In a nutshell, these practices aim to significantly reduce byproducts of warehousing operations that may harm the environment by replacing them with more socially responsible alternatives where possible. In cases where efficient alternatives are unavailable, warehousing professionals may choose to offset concerns like carbon emissions by contributing to organizations that focus on sustainability.
Common Green Logistics Practices to Consider for Your Warehousing Operation
Although not all warehousing operations produce the same amount of waste or emit the same amount of carbon, virtually every warehouse can benefit from going green. If you’re interested in some ideas to implement within your operations, below are several common green logistics practices in warehouses to consider:
Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management concerns how materials and finished goods move from suppliers to manufacturers to warehouses and beyond. A strong, well-organized supply chain is the key to success in logistics, and this is evident when you look at the efficiency involved in how Amazon warehouses work.
Warehouses are crucial components within modern supply chains, but maintaining a healthy supply chain typically requires trucks, heavy machinery, and other equipment that produces greenhouse gases. Focusing on green logistics by making supply chains more efficient can help reduce these emissions.
For instance, evaluating routing may open up new opportunities for streamlined transport of finished goods to or from your warehouse, reducing waste and the need for as many trucks as possible. You can also evaluate your warehouse's machinery, including forklifts and other machines used to move pallets, to see if alternatives are available. Modern warehouse equipment can run on natural gas and electricity, making these alternatives attractive solutions for warehousing professionals who want to go green.
Eco-Friendly Packaging
If your warehouse works with packaging materials, including pallets, turning your attention to eco-friendly packaging can be a way to promote green logistics practices in warehouses. Many pallet companies offer options for pallet production that rely on sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact.
When using cardboard or other recyclable materials in your warehouse, create a system that incentivizes warehouse managers to collect, reuse, or recycle cardboard. These steps promote waste reduction and may reduce reliance on raw materials. As an added benefit, you may save money by working with recycled packaging materials over new materials.
Replacing Equipment and Fixtures
In addition to your practices and protocols changes, you can go green by switching out office equipment and fixtures. For example, you can change out faucets and toilets at your warehouse for low-flow alternatives. You can also consider replacing traditional lighting with energy-saving LED lighting and installing automated timers or sensors that turn off the lights when no one is working in a specific area.
The Benefits of Going Green
Green logistics practices in warehouses offer a wide range of benefits. If you’re wondering whether investing in green energy solutions is right for your warehouse, below are some of the advantages:
A Cleaner Environment
Perhaps the biggest benefit of going green is a cleaner environment. When you use less energy, fewer resources are needed to make that energy. Switching to renewable alternatives that can be recaptured and used repeatedly can also preserve natural resources. Reducing your reliance on fossil fuels can lessen the burden on the power grid, potentially strengthening it for everyone in the community.
Cost Reduction
Sustainable warehouse initiatives can result in lower operational costs when properly planned out. For example, when you switch to green power, such as solar panels, to reduce energy consumption from the grid, you may experience overall cost savings across your entire operation.
You may also reduce costs by switching to recycled materials or partnering with a pallet manufacturer offering recycled solutions. Renewable energy initiatives like solar panels can reduce energy costs while doing something good for the environment.
Stronger Marketing Opportunities
Another benefit of environmentally friendly waste management is opening up new marketing opportunities. Because today’s consumers are savvy about doing business with companies engaged in long-term sustainability efforts, promoting your green initiatives can position your brand for success.
To take advantage of this, include any green certifications your warehouse carries in your marketing materials. You can also promote green initiatives on social media or through video content.
Consider creating content featuring stories or quotes from team members about why they choose to go green. Personal stories from your team or business partners can go a long way in sharing your warehouse’s commitment to a cleaner energy future.
Are There Downsides to Going Green in Warehousing?
While instituting green policies and procedures can offer plenty of benefits, there are some potential downsides. The good news is that most of these downsides can be mitigated by planning and implementing green initiatives slowly and with purpose.
Retooling May Be Costly
Depending on the sustainability changes you make at your warehouse, retooling machinery to handle new types of containers or materials may involve high upfront costs. Additionally, the labor involved in analyzing and reworking supply chain protocols can be costly.
Thankfully, planning can mitigate some of these costs. While the costs associated with changing out machinery may not be lessened, you can avoid downtime by scheduling retooling or equipment replacement at a time that does not inconvenience your workflow.
Training May Take Time
Whenever new initiatives are introduced in the workplace, it can take a while for everyone to catch on. This is true for green initiatives, but training may help bring everyone up to speed faster. This typically means your company must invest in specialized training, which may be costly.
To overcome this challenge, break your training down into smaller parts and prioritize training sessions and modules. Introducing initiatives over time may help team members absorb new information without getting overwhelmed, which can improve efficiency in adopting new green initiatives in the workplace.
Don’t Forget to Take Advantage of Government Incentives
It’s also worth noting that going green can mean saving some green through tax incentives and rebates. Local, state, and federal incentives may be available for warehousing operations that institute specific eco-friendly processes or purchase and install certain green equipment. Federal incentives change occasionally, and local and state incentives vary by location.
Do Your Part – Go Green!
Although going green at your warehouse can feel overwhelming, you can take things one step at a time. Every warehousing operation is unique, so begin by listing small things you can do to get started. It’s also a good idea to involve others in planning, and partnering with other professionals in the logistics industry can spark new ideas and open new opportunities.
Contact Pallets Yesterday to Kick Start Your Green Logistics Plan
At Pallets Yesterday, we specialize in pallet solutions for warehousing professionals and others in the logistics industry. Our team can help kick-start your green initiatives through recycled pallets, and our strategic location along the Treasure Coast can benefit green supply chain management. We’re also your partner when you need to know where to buy new pallets, including custom pallets.
