Sustainability

Each year, a list of 75 supply chain companies that are showing a real commitment to going green are spotlighted in a report. Here’s a snapshot of 10 major players from the most recent one.

Product Spotlight BY MICHAEL SENECAL The key to understanding sustainability in any industry is understanding the direct relationship between efficiency and the environment—improvements in one also mean improvements in the other. As enterprises with material handling needs strive to become more productive and efficient, they turn to members of MHI’s Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) Industry Group for tools ...

WERC Matters BY MICHAEL MIKITKA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MHI’S KNOWLEDGE VALUE CENTER AND WERC As global warming continues and world leaders negotiate regulations to minimize the damage humans have inflicted on Earth, multiple global corporations have already established sustainability initiatives that support internal goals, as well as those of their customers. Three such companies include third-party logistics (3PL) services ...

Feature With end consumers more aware of the environmental impact of online shopping and the tremendous amount of packaging waste it creates, manufacturers and suppliers are responding with a variety of design and material innovations. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER PHOTO: STOROPACK Consumers who embraced the necessity of shopping online in 2020 due to the pandemic have continued to do so ...

Feature Utilizing the latest supply chain innovations to boost productivity, efficiency and throughput can also deliver a range of environmental benefits that enhance the bottom line while protecting the planet. BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI As technology advances have taken supply chain management from art to science, organizations can now analyze, tweak, measure and optimize operational processes across ...

Feature Companies are realizing the benefits of environmentally friendly warehouses and DCs and are embarking on both new builds and renovations that are earning LEED accreditation. BY SANDY SMITH ISTOCK.COM/GWYCECH The idea of environmentally friendly warehouses took off a few years back. Big brands announced plans—and many of them have since come to fruition. The United States Green Building Council, ...

More materials suppliers than ever are disclosing the environmental impact of their operations and their efforts to offset them, according to the Consumer Data Platform (CDP). Despite pandemic-related disruptions, 8,000 suppliers disclosed their environmental data through CDP in 2020, an increase of 16%. Those suppliers are addressing requests for transparency from 154 major buyers that are members of the CDP ...

By Tom Gresham In today’s corporate landscape, sustainability has fast developed into a necessary point of emphasis. Experts say a key ingredient to pursuing sustainability in a meaningful way is transparency in the supply chain, where much of a company’s environmental impact lies. Gopal Iyer, supply chain delivery lead at procurement consultancy 4C Associates, said he has seen estimates indicating ...

By Sheryl S. Jackson In the quest to improve productivity, decrease costs and enhance safety in the warehouse or distribution facility, owners and managers look to a variety of equipment, technology and training. There is, however, one area that usually does not top the list of actions considered essential for performance improvement. “Batteries and battery charging technology are often overlooked ...

MHI’s Innovation Awards program has seen an increasing number of submissions each of the past eight years since its introduction.