By working with the right partners, food and beverage companies can increase their sustainable practices throughout the warehouse to reduce their environmental footprint.
Today's supply chain is facing the challenge of increasing consumer demand in the face of labor shortage and inflation, and at the same time, it is necessary to find ways to produce and transport products as sustainable as possible. As a major contributor to global emissions, the food industry feels more responsible for reducing its carbon footprint and implementing sustainable practices in every link of the supply chain.
With efficiency and productivity becoming the driving force for many businesses today, finding ways to implement eco friendly measures in warehouses and distribution centers can help food and beverage companies optimize their warehouses and reduce their ecological footprint.
As these companies strive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, waste from landfills, water use, etc., the following trends promote the importance of green warehousing and sustainable supply chain management practices.
(1) The vigorous development of e-commerce activities
The explosive growth of e-commerce has brought challenges to distribution and order fulfillment. In order to keep up with demand, companies need to scale up as quickly and sustainably as possible. To do this, the company is using more automation and robotics in its warehouses. This is where reusable plastic packaging comes into play, providing dimensional consistency and repeatable performance for all types of automated systems.
Unlike traditional wooden pallets or corrugated boxes, reusable packaging solutions are consistent in size and create a smooth interface between automation systems and product loads. Conversely, wooden pallets are more likely to break boards or pop nails, causing potential downtime of the automation system, or possibly causing product damage and waste. By using reusable packaging in these systems, companies not only increase their uptime, but also reduce their waste and subsequent environmental impact.
(2) Consumer requirements for sustainability
Today's consumers want to buy from sustainable brands. The rise of the concept of circular economy, coupled with consumer pressure on more sustainable products, is driving many leading companies to improve their environmental practices to promote the sustainability of the entire supply chain, including their warehouses. According to Blue Yonder's 2022 consumer sustainable development survey, nearly 65% of consumers are willing to spend more money on products to ensure that the production and packaging of products are sustainable.
Companies can improve their practices by reducing consumable packaging to promote sustainability. Changing to reusable packaging can effectively prevent the generation of waste from the source of packaging and prevent one-time packaging from entering the solid waste stream. The company also avoided the problem of repeatedly handling disposable consumables when selecting packages that are reused for many times. This not only reduces waste, but also helps products move more efficiently and safely.
(3) Need for cost optimization
A sustainable warehousing strategy is not only good for the environment, but also good for the company's bottom line. The use of reusable packaging is just a way for companies to promote efficiency, while reducing costs and improving the ecological footprint.
For example, the durability of reusable plastic packaging solutions enables them to sustain many cycles in the supply chain, resulting in a compelling return on investment. In fact, switching to reusable plastic pallets can reduce solid waste by 72% and energy consumption by 71%. Based on the typical application of 3000 reusable pallets, it will be used 6 times a year for 8 years. More importantly, due to the long service life of reusable pallets, the company does not need to continuously order new wooden pallets or corrugated boxes to maintain operations. The advantages of not having to reorder a lot of packages are manifold; It not only reduces the number of deliveries and the accompanying fuel, emissions and transport costs, but also protects the company from industry shortages and supply chain delays, thereby preventing their business from functioning properly.
The versatility of reusable packaging also provides transport efficiency, as many solutions are designed to optimize trailer space on the return journey. This means less backhaul, thus reducing costs and emissions.
(4) New form of performance
The company is adopting new performance methods, such as micro performance centers, to meet the needs of consumers. Micro compliance not only allows retailers to integrate their e-commerce activities and provide higher sorting efficiency, but also reduces their impact on the environment by reducing emissions and consumable packaging in the last mile. These centers can use reusable suitcases or trash cans, eliminating the need for intermediate packaging between manufacturers and regional distribution centers. This reduces their dependence on cardboard and wooden pallets, thereby reducing waste.
(5) The rise of energy saving systems
In addition to performance and packaging options, companies can also optimize warehouses to improve energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption, helping the food industry reduce its carbon footprint. For example, energy can be saved through different forms of lighting, including skylights, solar panels, and LEDs. Energy management systems can also be implemented to make efficient use of electricity. For example, the machine can be shut down when it is not running. Efficient HVAC systems and well insulated buildings can also reduce energy consumption.
As a component of the global supply chain, warehouse can become a competitive asset for enterprises to achieve long-term financial and environmental sustainability goals. Everything from production to storage, processing, packaging and transportation helps to build a sustainable supply chain. Improving linkages between supply chains requires greater communication, compromise, flexibility and the ability to see long-term success. By working with the right partners, food and beverage companies can increase their sustainable practices throughout the warehouse to reduce their environmental footprint.
