7 Ways to Make Your Logistics Business More Sustainable

The green movement is growing. More people want to be responsible for their own carbon footprint. The logistics industry is no exception. There are several small steps that companies can take to start making their logistics business more sustainable. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a small business owner, or working in a corporate setting, there are many ways to reduce your company’s impact on the environment and show your customers that you care. Here are seven ways you can do so.

1. Reduce packaging

Reduce packaging. The average American throws away 4.4 pounds of packaging every day. This can have a major impact on the environment, not just through increased waste in landfills but through increased emissions at recycling plants. Even if you are using recyclable materials, there is still more energy and resources that go into transporting these materials and sorting them than what goes into making virgin paper or plastic products.

2. Use reusable containers

One of the easiest ways to make your logistics business more sustainable is by using reusable containers. For example, if you are in the delivery business, you could provide insulated bags for customers to use with each order so that they can reuse them as needed. This not only reduces waste but also saves on your business’s costs. A lot of customers will be happy to reuse their container because it means not having to pay for a new one each time they order. Measuring how many bags are reused and which ones are reused most can help you create effective marketing campaigns and policies around reusable containers.

3. Streamline your supply chain

One of the best ways to get your logistics business running sustainably is by streamlining your supply chain. Start with the products and services you use in production. Reduce the amount of transportation needed for materials by negotiating a contract with suppliers that are as close to home as possible.

Next, think about how you use raw products, like paper and ink, that can be recycled. You should also look for opportunities to reduce waste, such as designing packaging with less material or using more recyclable materials when possible.

Finally, make sure you have one-to-one relationships with suppliers so that you know where products come from and what they are made of before purchase.

4. Implement a recycling program

Recycling programs are one of the easiest ways to make your logistics business more sustainable. It does not take much for a company to set up a recycling program, which can reduce trash by as much as 60 percent.

The first step is designating an area in your office or warehouse where employees can put recyclables in bins. This makes it easy for employees to recycle and cuts down on the amount of time spent looking for a recycling bin.

Then, you need to identify an appropriate recycling center and find out how they want you to package their recyclables. Some might prefer plastic bags while others will accept cardboard boxes.

Once you have the right packaging materials, all that is left is to schedule a pickup with the company and let them know what types of recyclables you have so they can send someone who knows how to handle them.

5. Support local businesses

One way to reduce your business’s carbon footprint is by supporting local businesses. Supporting local businesses takes less fuel and fewer resources than shipping goods from a remote location. Plus, you will be doing something good for the environment.

For example, if you buy locally grown produce, there are no emissions from transporting it to your grocery store. If you buy food from a neighboring farm, the distance is much shorter than if the food comes from across the country.

Additionally, keep in mind that if you purchase products from a company outside of your city or state, the company will have to burn fuel to deliver their product to you.

6. Recycle your own waste

The first thing you can do to make your logistics business more sustainable is recycling your own waste. Many logistics businesses have a lot of waste that is thrown away in the trash every day. This can include everything from paper to plastic and food scraps. You can recycle these items and save money on landfill taxes by recycling your own waste. And, at the same time, you are saving the environment one small step at a time.

7. Invest in sustainable business practices

In the logistics industry, there are many opportunities to reduce your company’s carbon footprint. For example, you can choose to invest in sustainable business practices. In doing so, you would find that your business is more profitable and has a higher return on investment. There are also several ways you can reduce the fuel consumption of your vehicles by investing in modern technology or training employees on how to operate your vehicles more efficiently.

ProConnect Integrated Logistics

If you think freight forwarding, warehousing, custom clearance or local distribution could be helpful and prove to be efficient for your business, talk to us. We help companies across several industries with their logistics needs, including cross-docking, warehousing and freight forwarding. We possess the experience and the expertise required that can help you reduce costs, achieve faster turnaround time, implement more efficiency, and offer strong partnership.

Know more about shipping/ logistics industry by checking out our previous article on  Logistics: The Most Important Thing You Might Not Know About

Still have questions? Looking for a quote? Contact us today.

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