During Black Friday and Christmas campaigns, logistics and transport companies manage about 108 million parcel shipments. According to the Spanish Logistics and Transport Business Organization (UNO), an average of 3.7 million shipments are made daily, reaching peaks of up to 4.8 million.
These campaigns account for 40% of the logistics sector’s activity throughout the year, but the benefits that this brings to consumers and companies have a high environmental cost due to the exaggerated use of plastics and packaging.
What measures can we take to achieve more responsible logistics?
- 1. Recycle: It is important to use recycled and recyclable materials for packaging. Proper management contributes to waste reduction and sustainable material cycling. The least polluting and most used packaging is cardboard at 77%, followed by plastic at 34%. Similarly, logistics operators must implement efficient waste management policies in their research centres.
- 2. Flexible deliveries: provide the customer with the flexible delivery option so that they can be aware of where their order is at all times through email or SMS notifications. You can also opt for the option of green deliveries and efficient routes, as good management is essential to reduce carbon emissions.
- 3. Sustainable vehicle fleets: adapting fleets to electric or hybrid vehicles contributes significantly to the reduction of polluting emissions. This type of transport reduces noise pollution and frees up space in cities thanks to its small size.
- 4. Digitalization and use of new technologies: by making use of digital systems for inventory management, tracking shipments, documents and other processes, the use of resources such as paper and ink is reduced, allowing better coordination and communication in real time. Digitalization and new technologies not only improve efficiency, but also reduce waste and improve visibility across the entire logistics chain.
- 5. Continuous evaluation and improvements: Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess sustainable performance and conducting regular audits ensure that the company is on track for continuous sustainability and constant improvement.
By adopting these keys, we achieve sustainable logistics that not only contributes to the well-being of the planet but also to the creation of long-term benefits in terms of efficiency, cut savings and business reputation.
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