What is a green supply chain?
Ecology
18 March 2023
Nowadays, with climate change constantly on the rise, more and more attention is being paid to what and how one buys. In the production and distribution of goods, a sustainable supply chain is extremely important. Find out what a supply chain is, how it works and why it is worth implementing!
Green supply chain - what is it really?
Green supply chain is the term for the sustainable and ecological management of a product from the sourcing of the raw material through to its processing and distribution. At every stage of the development of a commodity, care is taken to ensure that the technologies used are the least harmful to the environment and interfere with it as little as possible.
The first step of a green supply chain is to take care of green ways of sourcing raw materials for production. This can manifest itself, for example, in the use of energy-efficient machinery. This is followed by, for example, processes for transporting raw materials. They should take place, for example, using electric vehicles, as can be seen at InPost, and every journey must be used to the maximum. This means that journeys by unfilled delivery trucks must be limited.
In the sales process itself, there are a myriad of factors that are part of green chain operations. One of these is the methods of packaging goods for shipment. It is important to use biodegradable fillers, recycled cardboard or paper tape to seal the parcels. On top of this, delivery methods for parcels play a very important role. Delivery to collection points instead of door-to-door delivery helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. A good solution is to use the environmentally friendly Paczkomat® InPost machines.
In order for the chain to be called green, it is crucial that green solutions are pursued at every stage. This is all in order to prevent climate change, which is progressing at a very fast pace. Reducing the production of exhaust fumes or waste is of paramount importance in taking care of the environment. Unfortunately, many companies use unsustainable production processes and produce products in excess, thus worsening the state of the environment. 
How does a green supply chain work?
A green supply chain is a sign of companies caring for the planet. Trade is an economic sector that is growing all the time. E-commerce in particular deserves special attention in this respect. With such a large-scale phenomenon, even small changes in the companies involved in the supply chain have a big impact on the public and the environment.
One example is the optimisation of the routes of the lorries that deliver raw materials to the production halls. The lorries produce huge amounts of exhaust fumes, which have a significant impact on the state of the atmosphere and, consequently, climate warming. If the routes they have to take are shortened and, on top of this, the frequency of their journeys is reduced, the amount of exhaust fumes on an annual basis will be considerably less.
A similar situation applies to the way and quantity of goods produced. Reducing the number of garments released within a specific collection or using recycled materials more generally has great environmental effects. The customer should be able to choose the delivery method, including necessarily deliveries to collection points such as Parcel Machine®. In such situations, the courier delivers more parcels to one location in a single course, reducing the amount of distance travelled.
Small improvements along the chain can make a real difference to the environmental impact of growing trade. It is important to use electric and hybrid cars and to spread environmental awareness in all companies. It is worth organising training and implementing environmentally friendly solutions, such as waste segregation or the use of tap water, among others.
Why implement a green supply chain in a company?
A sustainable supply chain within a company enables it to reap a multitude of benefits, and not only environmental ones. The advantages include time and financial savings. These can be seen, for example, in better transport planning or the use of renewable energy sources. Thanks to energy-efficient production systems, the costs that a company has to incur to be able to bring a product to market are significantly reduced.
The use of green solutions makes a big difference in how customers and business partners perceive a company. Consumers are increasingly looking for sustainably produced and transparently sourced goods. They even appreciate the environmentally friendly packaging of products and are much more likely to buy from shops that do not hide their environmental activities.
Other companies also want to cooperate with companies operating in this way. This allows the business to continually grow and expand. This also involves increasing profits.
With a green supply chain, water is also saved. In times of water crisis, protecting this natural resource is particularly important. Caring for the environment allows for the continuous introduction of innovative solutions to all companies involved in the chain. It is precisely thanks to pro-environmental aspirations that solutions such as fulfilment are being developed.
What can be gained by introducing a green supply chain in a company?
Green supply chains are a way of creating a positive corporate image. In addition to the benefits for the planet, it should not be forgotten how well green measures drive consumer decisions. Thanks to the drive to save money, many production processes are being automated, and this means that production takes place faster and more efficiently. This includes artificial intelligence or robots of various kinds.
Minimising the number of processes that contribute to environmental problems is essential in today's logistics strategies. Responsible supply chains are transparent benefits for both customers and producers. In addition, companies should patronise environmental campaigns, such as greening of land. Act in accordance with sustainable chain principles!
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