Four Trends in Sustainable Warehousing
It is an exciting time for sustainability in third-party logistics. The past decade has seen some of the most profound innovations in supply chain management. Our industry is showing it can lead the world through sustainable warehousing and transportation. And with new technologies and continued commitments to creating sustainable supply chains, the best is yet to come.
A few things are clearly driving our industry forward, and Prism is excited to be actively pursuing and implementing many of these practices and technologies. Here is our list of the top trends in sustainability in our industry:
Internet of Things. IoT has arguably had an impact on every aspect of the supply chain, including transportation, retail, agriculture, and consumer goods. From optimizing truck and delivery routes to increasing manufacturing operations, the Internet of Things continues to play a huge role in reducing energy consumption and increasing sustainability.
Paperless Warehousing. While hardly a new sustainability program for warehouses, the environmental impact of simply eliminating paper in the dock management and handheld systems cannot be overstated. Going paperless is one of the first efforts toward sustainability for many operators as it also leads to the drastic reduction of human error, reduced staff time for paperwork management and client inquiries, and real-time information processing.
PRISM Logistics has been utilizing paperless warehousing operations for many years. Our clients are happy with the real-time information they have on their inventory and that we are helping them meet their sustainability goals.
Energy Reduction. Sustainable practices in warehousing must include efforts to further optimize energy efficiency. From massive distribution centers to small storage facilities, warehouses will increasingly be moving to renewable energies such as solar and roof-mounted wind in areas where appropriate.
The installation of skylights and energy-efficient lighting can dramatically reduce both the energy consumption for lighting a facility and reduce ongoing costs. Prism has been implementing some of these strategies in our facilities and will continue to explore new opportunities as they are available.
Warehousing Technology. Technology ranging from electric forklift trucks to smart shelving exists in the marketplace today. These technologies not only increase supply chain sustainability but also reduce costs in the long term. It is exciting to see so many innovations taking place toward a more sustainable supply chain management.
There are a number of other aspects of sustainability in third-party logistics. What would you like to see in the future of sustainable warehousing?