Environmental Issues in Warehouse; Setting &

Operation

Presented by:
Nilashis Roy

Environment
Our environment is constantly changing.
There is no point of denying this. However,
as our environment changes rapidly, so
does we need to become more & more
aware of the problems attached to it. With
a massive influx of natural disasters,
warming and cooling periods, different
types of weather patterns and much more,
people need to be aware of what types of
environmental problems that our planet is
facing.

Warehousing
Large scale warehouse distribution and logistics
facilities are key components to the regional and
international goods movement system.In addition to
warehouse and logistics facilities, rail and highways for
transporting goods, and ports (including seaports,
airports) are national and regional entry points for goods.
International trade is expected to continue to expand,
and as a result, warehouses and facilities will continue to
be built along major transportation routes. Warehouses
can play an important role in mitigating the environmental
impacts of logistics activities through green initiatives

However, with effective and proper mitigation, such

facilities can have substantial environmental impacts.

Environmental impacts in Warehouse

Defective supply chains are costing companies billions

every year in lost revenue. At this point there is a need for
optimization, automation, risk mitigation and innovation.
According to reports, around 75 per cent of a companys
carbon footprint comes from transportation and logistics
alone. In such a scenario, warehouses can play an important
role in mitigating the environmental impacts of logistics
activities through green initiatives.

Diesel Particulate Matter

Noise

Traffic

Diesel Particulate Matter

It is clear that warehouses and logistic facilities are an important

source of employment, and as such, play a key role in Indian
economy. Nevertheless, without properly designed mitigation,
these facilities can have serious impacts on the environment.
The environmental impacts are primarily associated with the
large diesel trucks that travel to and from the facilities.
For example, Diesel Particulate Matter(DPM), which is essentially
the soot left from the combustion of diesel fuel, is a known
carcinogen that can have localized health effects on surrounding
areas. Locating truck loading and queuing areas away from
sensitive nearby areas such as residences, and adding
requirements limiting truck idling time, are key strategies that
can be implemented to minimize potential health risks.
A Health Risk Assessment(HRA)is an important analytic tool to
estimate
exposure
to
DPM
and
other
Toxic
Air
Contaminants(TACs), and to estimate emissions reductions from
the implementation of mitigation.

Noise
Another potential environmental impact to consider is noise.
Noise is primarily generated from operations within facilities, as
well as from the truck traffic moving to and from facilities.
Operational noise can be mitigated by relocating the loading
operations away from noise sensitive areas, such as residences.
In addition, measures such as screen walls create effective noise
barriers, and even provide for visual screening of truck loading
and parking areas.
Another common strategy for reducing noise pollution is to build
driveways with direct access to arterial roads which often reduces
the need for trucks to be routed through residential
neighbourhoods. In some cases, limiting travel hours to daytime
periods on certain streets may be necessary to further reduce
noise impacts.

Traffic
Warehouses typically have far less employees
per square foot of building area than other
manufacturing or office buildings. Thus, the trip
generation rates for warehouses tend to be far
less, even when taking truck traffic into
consideration. Despite this, truck traffic does
have special characteristics that need to be
considered, therefore driveways, widths, internal
project circulation drive aisles, turning radii within
the warehouses and adjoining streets need to be
designed to accommodate big rigs and reduce
potential traffic.

Environmental Issues with

Transportation.
Pollution is always a main concern when it
comes to the environment.
When the semis are used to deliver
products for Starbucks stores there is a lot
of diesel fuel being distributed into the air.
Air pollution is one of the main causes of
global warming and is a leading
environmental issue.

Green Warehouse- A solution

Reducing Consumption

The foremost step in making warehouse green is to cut

consumption, particularly use of energy and resources. This
will minimize costs by greatly reducing spending. With
energy costs continuing to show an upward trend, reducing
consumption will create a clean environment whilst prove
beneficial for warehouse company in the long run.
It is imperative to reduce packaging materials utilized
duringshipping of productsin order to lessen energy that is
used to shift packaged items around the warehouse.
Utilizing biodegradable packaging materials is the best way
to create an environment-friendly warehouse. This reduces
the risk of discarding away harmful packaging materials
that pollute the environment.

Reusing Materials

In order to effectively adopt best green practices,

warehouses need to consider reuse of materials,
particularly wood pallets and plastic totes.
Warehouses must make it a point to reuse
packaging materials in order to save up on costs
and reduce waste.
By effectively reprocessing packaging materials,
warehouses can minimize costs, as they will not
need to buy packaging material every time.

Recycle Materials to Reduce

Waste

Another good idea of creating a green warehouse

is to recycle materials used for packing items.
Instead of discarding away these packaging
materials and polluting the environment, it is
better to send these wastes to recycling facilities.
Warehouses must recycle cardboard, plastics and
paper materials in order to make their unit more
eco-friendly.

Suggestions for green Operations

Install solar panel & small wind turbines at warehouse rooftop for energy
saving.
Use LED lights & motion sensors and fluorescent lightings. Fluorescent
lights use less energy for the same amount of light and have better color
rendering, in addition to uniform light distribution.
Use electric fork-lifts. The use of electric forklifts eliminate tailpipe
emissions produced by gas forklifts which can result in improved employee
health and have less impact on the environment. By using electric forklifts,
the cost of fuel is eliminated which results in estimated savings of $26,000 in
propane over 5 years of using a 5,000lb capacity forklift 6 hours a day, 5
days a week. Electric forklifts typically have better turning radius
specifications which can increase storage capacity, reduce product and truck
damage and/or increase productivity. Whats more, electric lift trucks
produce less noise during operation which results in a better, safer work
environment for your employees.

Create a Value proposition

The environmental initiative builds the value proposition of a
logistics company and sets it apart from the competitors as it
reflects its commitment to the environment. The benefits of
undertaking green logistics and environmental initiatives include

1. Brand building for being projected as an Eco-friendly company

holding corporate social responsibility
2. Cost management from energy savings by reducing fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions resulting in efficient and
sustainable supply chain infrastructure, which creates an
opportunity to earn carbon credits.
3. Human well-being index results in increased productivity of
employees.

Conclusion
Implementation of Green supply chain is a challenge as it involves both
automation and material compliance meeting the carbon reduction. In an
effort to minimize costs and increase social responsibility, many
warehousing and fulfillment companies are looking to implement
environmentally friendly practices that minimize their carbon footprint and
reduce environmental pollution.
Logistics automation has virtually made inventory paperless and the use of
information technology is bringing warehouse operation towards the
greener side.
In addition, using construction materials that possess good strength and
durability proves to be of utmost importance like the precast as it reduce
the CO2 emissions. It plays an important role as the warehouse structures
are expected to exist and perform over long periods of time, and hence the
construction materials used should be compliant to sustainable standards
to bear the long-term wear & tear and reduce the cost of replacement to a
large extent. For e.g. the roof structures facilitating use of solar PV, usage
of skylight concepts will drive reduction in costs of alternative fuels on a
year-on-year basis, insulated steel panels will ensure lower consumption
through the grid and eventually play a crucial role in the green technology.