Articles
Sustainability
Pursuing Eco-Efficient Logistics
By Ray Hatch President and CEO Quest Resource Management In 2019, expect sustainability to evolve into a critical priority. The transportation sector is already moving toward greener fleets, and pursuing innovative solutions to reduce waste and improve landfill diversion. The new year will bring even more pressure—and opportunity—to address eco-efficiency within logistics. Robust sustainability programs […]
Read MorePlastics Supply Chain Turns Off the Tap
HP Inc. and IKEA are joining the NextWave Plastics global consortium—a collaborative initiative that brings together leading companies to "turn off the tap" of plastic entering the ocean. The goal is not only to scale their own ocean-bound plastics supply chain efforts, but to also extend across industries to make it commercially viable for all, […]
Read MoreApple Seeds Clean Energy Fund for China
Apple will launch a new first-of-its-kind investment fund in China to connect suppliers with renewable energy sources. As part of the company’s commitment to increase the use of renewable energy within its supply chain, 10 initial suppliers and Apple will jointly invest nearly $300 million over the next four years into the China Clean Energy […]
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The Supply Chain World is Not Flat
The idea that supply chain and logistics networks aren’t linear is not new, and neither is the concept of the circular economy. In our globalized world, the value chain has gotten much more complicated and difficult to manage, with many more variables now part of the equation. Add in the fact that the globe’s resources […]
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Big Apple Polishes Freight Transportation System
New York City plans to overhaul its aging freight distribution systems through strategic investments to modernize maritime and rail assets and create new distribution facilities. Freight NYC is a $100-million plan with the ultimate goals of creating nearly 5,000 good-paying jobs for New Yorkers and a more sustainable and resilient supply chain network. New York […]
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J&J Uses Sustainability to Strengthen Carrier Relationships
Shipper of choice and sustainability are trending terms among supply chain managers but they’re nothing new to the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies in North America. The company’s logistics operation has a long track record of attracting carriers that share a commitment to customer service, efficiency, and sustainable transportation. With for-hire trucking capacity in […]
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Clarifying The Business Case For Green Supply Chain Management
For most companies, sustainability is not a simple case of “profits vs. planet” but a more subtle issue of people looking for jobs and inexpensive goods versus others who seek a pristine environment. Here’s how your supply chain can satisfy these conflicting motivations to achieve both economic growth and environmental sustainability.
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Urban Logistics: You Can’t Fight City Haul
The impact of urbanization—population increases in cities and towns as opposed to rural areas—on business growth and sustainability concerns nearly all companies surveyed in The Road to Sustainable Urban Logistics, a new report by UPS and GreenBiz Group. However, only 47 percent feel prepared to address the associated business challenges, according to the survey. Further, […]
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How Reduced Packaging Waste is Key to Sustainability
Aiming for a green supply chain not only reduces costs but also is socially responsible. Shippers are turning to innovative solutions to reduce packaging waste and emissions as key components of their sustainability efforts. More customers than ever choose to purchase from sustainable companies. In fact, 91 percent of global consumers expect companies to do […]
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The Perfect Amount of Packaging
Sustainable packaging helps shippers’ bottom line and brand as well as being easier on the environment.
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How to Grow a Green Supply Chain
Sustainability impacts everything from how companies approach product design all the way through to customer delivery. In today’s competitive environment, sustainability must improve profitability and reduce risk. An industry standard for what constitutes a sustainable supply chain does not exist. Is being eco-friendly in transportation or manufacturing enough to qualify your company as green? As […]
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5 Ways Your TMS Can Help You Go Green
Some of the most common reasons to implement a Transportation Management System (TMS) include automation, visibility, and optimization, all of which can lead to reduced costs and greater efficiency. However, a TMS also has the ability to help you be more environmentally responsible. Sustainability matters to businesses and individuals—both in terms of what they buy […]
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19 Steps to Creating a Lean and Green Supply Chain
Nurturing a green, sustainable supply chain benefits the environment and your bottom line. Here are some tactics—from analyzing your transportation network and warehouse design to looking for recycling opportunities—to help you go green and get lean.
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75 Green Supply Chain Partners
Inbound Logistics features its annual G75— a carefully curated list of 75 companies that go above and beyond to ensure their global supply chains are sustainable, and that their operations are socially and environmentally friendly. These companies have spent years developing and implementing best practices to ensure the footprint they leave on the world is a positive one.
Read MoreLG Honored For Supply Chain Sustainability
LG Electronics (LG) was honored for innovation in supply chain sustainability by the Green Electronics Council. Presented at CES Asia 2017, the GEC Catalyst Awards seek to inspire innovation in the design, manufacture, and use of electronics to advance global sustainability. LG’s special distinction as 2017 GEC "Catalyzing Impact at Scale" Honoree recognizes LG OLED […]
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Electrifying Big Truck Fleets
Hyster Company is testing high capacity lift trucks with electric motors. The company suggests that, in the near future, ports and heavy industry will be able to electrify their big truck fleets, producing zero emissions while achieving comparable full shift performance. “Using a modular approach and innovative technology, applications will soon have maximum flexibility when […]
Read MoreICS Aims to Reduce CO2 Emissions from Global Shipping
On behalf of the international shipping sector, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) agreed to urge the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt dramatic CO2 reduction objectives to match the ambition of the Paris Agreement on climate change. In a submission to IMO member states, being made in conjunction with other shipping organizations, ICS will propose […]
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Commentary: 8 Sustainable Freight Trends Smart Supply Chains Need to Embrace
Sustainability in the freight industry has sometimes been treated as a necessary evil: something to be balanced against profit margins and industrial growth. However, the most sustainable solutions offer efficiency from both an operational and environmental perspective. Those are the ideas that save money, increase performance, and steward environmental resources most effectively. The following eight […]
Read MoreEmbracing the Circular Economy in the Supply Chain
Thanks to digital technologies like IoT, analytics, and sensors, adoption of circular economy business models has accelerated, moving from a specialized concept to a more mainstream business strategy. But according to a recent set of insights from Accenture Strategy, too often programs remain “skin deep.” Too few companies are embracing the “full circle” approach to […]
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Trends—March 2017
Freight Rails Make Federal Case for Funding Private funding for infrastructure is a valuable tool that can save money for the American taxpayer, but it isn’t a be-all, end-all solution to U.S. transportation problems. Transportation executives took to Capitol Hill in February 2017 to plead with the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation subcommittee to provide […]
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