Green Logistics – Think Green

Greenness and logistics the two words that make up the title are each charged with meaning, but combined, they form a term that is particularly evocative. Logistics are at the heart of the operation of modern transport systems and implies a degree organization and control over freight movement s that only modern technology could have brought into being. Green Logistics involves supply chain management practices and strategies that reduce the environmental and energy footprint of freight distribution. It focuses on material handling, waste management, packaging, transport.

APPLYING GREEN LOGISTICS TO SUPPLY CHAIN-                               

• *RAW MATERIAL
•  *SUPPLIER
• *MANUFACTURING
• *DISTRIBUTION
•  *CUSTOMERS
•  *CONSUMERS

Basis Of Supply Chain-                     

 *PRODUCT DESIGN AND PLANNING-

The conventional  focus of product design and development is the improvement its commercial and competitive attributes such as price, quality, features and performance. This process is common for electronic goods as each new generation of a product (computers, phones, televisions) is quantitatively and qualitatively better.

*PHYSICAL DISTRIBUTION-            

Concerned about strategies to reduce the environmental impacts of physical distribution, namely the transportation and warehousing processes. The usage of alternative modes and fuels is increasingly applied, particularly for city logistics. For long distance travel a modal shift to rail and economies of scale on shipping are considered strategies that may lead to greener supply chains.

*MATERIALS MANAGEMENT-         

Concerned about reducing the environmental impacts related to the manufacturing of goods in all their stages of production along a supply chain. A silent strategy involves Better Packaging to increase the load density as well as to reduce materials consumption and waste.

 *ELEMENTS OF GREEN LOGISTICS

1) GREEN TRANSPORTATION

2) GREEN WAREHOUSING

3) GREEN MATERIAL HANDLING

4) GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

5) GREEN PACKAGING

 1) GREEN TRANSPORTATION-       

Transportation and sustainability : Transportation, as a core component supporting the interactions and the development of socioeconomic systems, has also been the object of much consideration about what extent it is sustainable. “The ability to meet today’s transportation needs without compromising the ability of future generation s to meet their transportation needs”

Major initiatives taken from green logistics-

* improvement load factor

* low emission vehicle

* modal shift

* Bio diesel fuel

* Reduction transportation distance.

2) GREEN WAREHOUSING-              

Warehouses are busy places. Goods are constantly on the move inbound and outbound deliveries have to be dealt with as well as the movement of items from location to location. Many businesses now incorporate packing and assembly operations within warehouses. When businesses look at making their warehouse processes more environmentally focused, they generally look at three main areas, REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE.

 3) GREEN MATERIAL HANDLING-  

In a recent industrial outlook survey ,sponsored by modern material handling, 92% respondents stated expect environmentally sustainability to be very or somewhat important over that next year .while there are a number of suitable definition as the core concept is engaging and maintaining practices that contribute to the quality of  the environment long term basis.

 4)GREEN LOGISTICAL PACKAGING

By moving beyond conventional packaging methods and materials, companies can reduce their carbon footprint as well as their transportation spends and warehousing costs. Whether they call it eco friendly, sustainable, natural companies are looking for ways to “go green” with their packaging. While helping the environment is one benefit of eco-friendly packaging.

* FEATURES-

*Saving money

* maintaining business

* Attracting consumers.

 5)GREEN LOGISTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE-

Green infrastructure in particular there is an emphasis on the “life support” functions provided by a network of natural ecosystems, with an emphasis on interconnectivity to support long term sustainability. Example include clean water and healthy soils, as well as the more functions such a providing shade and shelter in and around towns and cities.

*maintenance of natural landscape processes.

*cleaner air and water.

*increased recreational and transportation opportunities.

*improve health

*better connection to nature and science of place.

Let’s go make the green logistic

AUTHOR : Vishal Dhamke

PUBLISHED BY : Shweta Agarwal