3 Small Ways to Make Your Shipping More Sustainable

Top of mind for most companies right now, supply chain sustainability involves a broad scope of activities that start at the point of raw materials and finish when the final product arrives at the end user’s doorstep or dock. At all points along the way there are opportunities to work in a more sustainable manner. The transportation sector is no exception. The magnitude of the work to become a more sustainable is daunting, but there are small changes you can make or even questions you can ask that can have an impact.

Find out how your carriers are reducing empty miles

Companies looking to reduce their carbon footprints should try to work with transportation providers that are actively working to reduce empty miles. This can take the form of bundled lanes, tweaking routes to maximize miles or reworking multi-drop loads to achieve better efficiency and reduction of deadhead miles.

Find out what your transportation partners are doing

Ask your transportation service partners how they are addressing sustainability beyond empty miles.

According to Work Truck Online, The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has pinpointed areas where both long-haul and last-mile fleets can concentrate their sustainability efforts:

• Sustainable driving practices, which include reducing time spent idling, optimizing driving speed for the most efficient fuel consumption, and using incentives to promote sustainable driver behavior. Drivers need to be trained in these areas.
• Vehicle practices can contribute to fuel efficiency. They include enhancing aerodynamics, implementing truck technology, and using cargo management systems.

“There are a multitude of ways for fleets to address each of these areas,” the publication points out, “ranging from the simple addition of trailer skirts or the use of cruise control, to the utilization of diesel particulate filters (DPFs) with catalyst coating or the optimization of supply chains.”

Small changes at your facilities can save costs

Did you know that making your facilities more energy-efficient helps your organization cut costs while making them more sustainable. Here are a few ideas to get started:

• Replace traditional lightbulbs and fixtures with LEDs
• Identify areas where water can be conserved (i.e., low-flow toilets) and make the necessary changes to reduce consumption of this natural resource
• Check and maintain proper refrigeration temperature levels
• Replace paper cups, plates and plastic cutlery with the real deal
• Practice proactive equipment maintenance on all machinery

Shippers – want to work with a company focused on reducing waste in the supply chain? Visit Convoy’s shipper hub or contact us at (206) 971-1237 to learn more.

Whether you’re aligning freight operations with sustainability goals or finding your next freight partner, consult our guide to developing a freight transportation strategy.