Shipping container
Every business has a carbon footprint. An organization, in its full operation, is bound to leave behind a carbon footprint. This, in fact, is an inevitable reality. But there are certainly a few ways to reduce an organization’s carbon footprint to some extent.
Reducing the carbon footprint is good for the environment and requires adhering to complaints issued by various organizations. One way you can reduce your organization’s carbon footprint is by selecting sustainable freight shipping. But this is just one of several ways. Let’s get into an in-depth discussion of how businesses can reduce their carbon footprint.
Choosing a Sustainable Freight Shipping Process
According to a study, transportation and logistics contribute to one-fifth of the world’s total carbon emissions. This trend doesn’t stop here. Almost 30% of this number is contributed by road freight transportation. This is why it is important for businesses to choose a freight shipping structure that is sustainable and reduces the carbon footprint. For instance, one can opt for a shared truckload model, which is designed to reduce 40% of carbon emissions. In STL, the shipper only pays for the space they need. This is different from a full truckload, in which you need to hire the entire truck. This means various shippers consolidate their goods into one truck, reducing carbon emissions.
Implement a Circular Economy
Before discussing how to implement a circular economy model in your supply chain, let’s define the term. A circular economy is a production and consumption approach that aims to reduce waste, utilize fewer resources in the supply chain, and use materials, tools, and machines for a longer duration of time.
Let us understand the circular economy with an example. The food industry is one of the top supply chains and is responsible for 50% of the total carbon emissions. One way the industry can reduce its carbon footprint is by reducing packaging usage and waste. Organizations working in the food industry can design their food packages so that they are easy to reuse.
Choosing Electric and Hybrid Vehicles for Logistics
When electric vehicles were first tested in the 1930s, who thought they would play such an important role in curbing the carbon footprint of the supply chain? The freight industry is also among the top eight supply chains that contribute to 50% of carbon emissions. To reduce the environmental impact of operations, many shipping providers are opting for electric and hybrid vehicles for logistics.
Choosing a Sustainably Structured Logistics System
In addition to using electric and hybrid vehicles for logistics, there are numerous other ways to reduce carbon footprint. One of them is choosing a sustainable logistics system. How? Here are some ways:
- Optimizing the utilization of truck space: If you are shipping your products by road, make sure you are maximizing the utilization of truck space. This way, you will be able to ship a larger volume of goods in one single consignment.
- Optimizing the route: Optimizing the route to reduce the need for terminals reduces the cost and duration of transit.
Implementing Proper Waste Management Strategies
Efficient waste management strategies in your supply chain distinguish you from your competitors. Organizations that aim to make a profit while also working for a noble cause are always appreciated by their peers and partners.
Proper waste management includes encouraging your customers to recycle the final products. In other cases, it also means being able to recycle the raw materials that were used in the production process.
Conclusion
Managing your organization’s carbon footprint has many environmental benefits. This approach also makes your operation cost-effective.
By determining the route that leads to fewer carbon emissions, you reduce the cost of fuel and freight transportation. By opting for proper waste management, you ensure that not a single byproduct of your supply chain goes to waste.
Moreover, when you choose these approaches, you establish yourself as a leader in your niche and get recognition as a business that gives importance to environmental well-being. This helps open up new partnership opportunities that you have never thought of.
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist and publisher that founded Green Prophet to unite a prosperous Middle East. She shows through her work that positive, inspiring dialogue creates action that impacts people, business and planet. She has published in thought-leading newspapers and magazines globally, owns an IoT tech chip patent, and is part of teams that build world-changing products to make agriculture and our planet more sustainable. Reach out directly to [email protected]
