What is Green Logistics?

Green Logistics or Eco Logistics is the process of making the logistics operations environmentally friendly and sustainable. Green Logistics aims to create a balance between economy and ecology. However, recent studies showed that 8-10% of global carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions are caused by the logistics industry. Therefore, transforming to green logistics is essential to sustain a healthy, sustainable environment for all living creatures.

Importance of Green Logistics :

• Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Recent studies showed that more than three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are caused bysupply 2 chains associated with different sectors in many industries. The most emitted greenhouse gas in the logistics industry is carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 has hazardous impacts on Earth including air pollution, increase Earth heat, depletion of the ozone layer, melting ice caps, rising oceans, and human health.
  
  
• Reduction of Carbon Footprint: Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases ( including carbon dioxide and methane ) that are generated by the actions of industries and human beings. Therefore, reducinggreenhouse gas emissions will cause a decrease in the carbon footprint. It is crucial to decrease the carbon footprint to save the life of all living creatures on Earth. Scientists estimated that the average global carbon footprint needs to be decreased to a value less than 2 tons in 2050 to avoid a ℃ rise in global temperature.
  
  
• Reduction of air, soil, and noise pollution: Logistics industry is one of the main contributors to air, soil, and noise pollution. The significant increase inpollution in the past few decades is threatening the lives of all living creatures on Earth.

Strategies for implementing Green Logistics :

The logistics industry plays an important role in increasing greenhouse gas emissions in particular, carbon dioxide (CO2). However, implementing practical solutions in such industry especially in the air and ocean freight is hard since there are currently no alternatives for them. But we can strategically reduce their emissions. Moreover, more strategies can be implemented on land/road transportation or trucking and in warehousing since it is more facile.

These strategies include :

• Use alternative vehicle or fuel technologies: Most trucks used for land transportation depend on diesel or fuel. Although diesel and fuel are considered cost-effective, the combustion of these will cause the emission of greenhouse gasses. The alternative can be hybrid vehicles which are vehiclesthat depend both on fuel and electricity, and electric cars. The company can implement a strategy to switch a certain number of their licensed trucks to electric or hybrid ones.
  
  
• Implement sustainable warehouse management: Building a sustainable warehouse is one of the main steps in implementing green logistics. The management includes efficient utilization of light, for instance, Led lights. In addition, powering the warehouse with renewable energy sources will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a great factor.
  
  
• Collaborate with other green companies or NGOs: Implementing sustainable solutions in the logistics industry is difficult since the implemented solutions are limited and there aren’t many alternatives available. Therefore, contributing with other companies t to produce renewable or green energy in other places will help in reducing emissions and pollution especially air pollution.

Conclusion :

Transforming from traditional logistics to green logistics is essential for both Earth and the logistic company since it helps the growth of their business, cuts costs, and lowers their carbon footprint. The world now is aiming for green energy and technology because they define our future here on Earth.