Sustainability has been a buzzword for a few years, and that’s not changing. According to the  2023 MHI Annual Industry Report, “The Responsible Supply Chain,” 48% of respondents reported increased influences to adopt a more sustainable supply chain. Consumers, stakeholders, regulators, and industry groups continue to pressure companies to take responsible steps to help the planet, and they can’t be ignored.

The folks over at Modern Materials Handling spoke to Hemateja Ari, Alpine’s Data Engineer, about all things sustainability, including packaging. In their article, Time to Act on Sustainability, they dive into the many ways supply chain executives can update their operations to address sustainability concerns, including smarter packaging, racking, alternate power sources, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Ari says one way to address sustainability is to focus on packaging as it’s a great opportunity for waste reduction. “Efficient packaging weighs and costs less to ship, and biodegradable packaging can reduce the carbon footprint.” He believes one of the easiest targets for reducing carbon footprint lies in smarter packaging, like right-sizing to send packages with less fill.

Retailers are also trying to do their part to help with sustainability. Amazon, for example, now offers customers the choice between next-day delivery or a slightly delayed delivery using fewer packaging materials. Ari understands most people will always choose next-day, and proposes removing the choice altogether so the more sustainable option is done every time. It’s a small step to take, but considering Amazon ships out 1.6 million packages per day, the impact would be tremendous.

While changing processes may seem overwhelming, the need to address sustainability is critical. Ari recommends working with your team to determine where it’s best to focus your sustainability efforts. Better yet, there is no need to implement a large and expensive solution, he recommends starting small and scaling as needed. For more tips from Ari and the other experts MMH spoke with, read the full article here. If you’re looking for new ways to make the most out of your supply chain investment, we’re here to help, simply reach out.