With climate change and the environmental issues we’re facing, it is vital to go green. Warehouses are a huge part of the economy, but many create a lot of waste and consume more energy than necessary. It may seem like a lot of work to make your warehouse more eco-friendly. But it will considerably benefit you in the long run. Changes may be expensive initially; however, you will save significantly more as time goes by. In addition to that, you can do numerous green warehouse practices that will not take as much time or money at all.
Benefits of Making Your Warehouse More Eco-Friendly
There are numerous benefits to making your warehouse more eco-friendly. Some of these benefits are:
- Reducing utility bills
- Increasing sustainability
- Reducing your carbon footprint and
- Providing your employees with an eco-friendly business
Although getting there can be a lot of work, knowing where to start and what changes will have the most impact will make all the difference. Even if you make the smallest changes to make your warehouse more eco-friendly, it is a big step in the right direction. Take a look at some of the many ways you can accomplish that.
1 - Go Paperless
Using traditional paper invoices can be wasteful, and a warehouse may spend a lot on paper and printer ink. To make your warehouse more eco-friendly, trade in the traditional invoices for digital ones. You can scan documents with a handheld scanner or smartphone and use emails instead of sending paper mail. Opting in for these options will go a long way with time and cost-efficiency.
2 - Use High-Efficiency Lighting
Changing your warehouse lighting is one of the simplest ways to make your warehouse more eco-friendly. Until recently, most warehouses used fluorescent lamps in their lighting system. However, LED lights have become a real game-changer in recent years. Owing to technological advancements, LEDs are now used for every lighting application, including high bay lighting. We all know that these lights are initially more expensive, but the benefits of a longer lifespan and higher efficiency outdo the standard types of lighting. You may be surprised to learn that LED lights use from thirty to seventy percent less electricity than traditional lights. They also have a much lower heat emission and a faster reaction time.
3 - Recycle
Jump on the recycling bandwagon—if somehow you haven’t already. Due to the variety of packaging options, warehouses are ideally suited for recycling, and your team can make a conscious effort to do so. It quickly becomes a habit and does not take extra time at all. Your warehouse will be a well-oiled recycling machine if you set up an efficient recycling plan. As warehouses throw out large amounts of cardboard and paper, they could be sending way more waste to the landfill than necessary.
4 - Reuse
There are many ways your warehouse can be more eco-friendly by reusing materials. Here are some ideas on what you can reuse:
- Corrugated boxes
- Pallets
- Packing materials
These are all costly to manufacture, and choosing to recycle them saves money and reduces the environmental impact of manufacturing. This is a seemingly small step toward reducing your warehouse’s effect on the environment. However, you will be making a huge impact overall. As centennialmoving.ca suggests, you can reuse packaging sent to you by suppliers. In addition to that, you can encourage customers to return packing for reuse.
5 - Add Solar Panels to Your Building
Solar panels are becoming more and more popular with businesses trying to save on energy expenses. The initial price of installing solar panels may seem high. However, don’t let that deter you, as you can expect a great return on your investment long-term. The larger the warehouse, the better for solar panel installment as they are usually added to the roofs. Solar panels have multiple configurations, and you can install them on different kinds of roofs as long as they can support the weight.
6 - Improve Your Insulation
Another great way to make your warehouse more eco-friendly is to have an expert review your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning unit (HVAC). You might be unnecessarily wasting money if your systems are not up-to-date. You might also look into installing an eco-friendly HVAC system. Adding insulation to the interior walls will help regulate cooling and heating in your warehouse. Less energy consumption leads to—you guessed it—lower energy bills.
For over 30 years, 18 Wheels Logistics has strived to be the most customer-centric trucking, warehousing, and logistics company around. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 18 Wheels relies on experience and integrity to make customers happy and remain on the cutting edge of shipping and logistics management.
If you have any questions about this article or you would like to talk to us about your shipping needs, please call us at (604) 439-8938.
