How Can Your Business Minimise Waste When Transporting Goods?
Recent statistics estimate that businesses across the UK create a combined 40.4 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste each year. In the current climate, where green initiatives and sustainability are prioritised, this simply isn’t good enough, and every business should be looking at how they can play their part in reducing this figure.
Whilst transporting goods is essential for the smooth running of your business, it can lead to the accumulation of large amounts of waste. That’s why, to celebrate Zero Waste Week, the team at Rotomshop has written this article jam-packed with our top tips on how to minimise waste when transporting goods.
What does transportation waste look like?
Whilst your mind may jump to excess packaging and bin bags, transportation waste may not always be tangible. However, its effects are clear in other aspects of your business; it can manifest as increased operating costs, wasting employees' time and unnecessary transport emissions. Optimising your transportation is not just about reducing physical waste; it’s about streamlining your operations to make them more efficient and sustainable.
Our top tips for minimising transportation waste
Plan ahead
If you’re transporting goods, there are plenty of small steps you can take to reduce emissions. By carefully planning the most efficient routes ahead of time, you can reduce mileage to minimise the environmental impact of your business. You could also use fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles to further lessen the transportation waste of your company. Good for the planet and good for your business — it’s a win-win!
Optimise loads
If you underutilise cargo space and send off your deliveries half-full, you’re not only increasing costs to your business — you’re also generating unnecessary emissions. One way to reduce this waste is to optimise loads by packing your goods more efficiently. Roll containers are a great way to achieve this, offering a secure way to store merchandise during transit that uses shelves and compartments to make the most of all available space.
Inventory management
By having effective inventory management methods in place, you should always have the correct amount of stock. This reduces waste, minimises costs and ensures that you don’t have a load of unnecessary products on hand. By having an efficient warehouse layout and the correct warehouse storage solutions, you can ensure that your products are visible and accessible so that it’s easy to maintain accurate inventory records and prevent overordering. If you stock perishable items, you can also use post pallet stacking racks to help facilitate a FIFO (First-In, First-Out) approach and prevent goods from spoiling.
Reusable transport equipment
Transporting goods can often lead to excessive waste due to the use of single-use packaging materials. When you use reusable containers to store products for transit, such as roll cages and stackable plastic storage containers, you’re reducing the volume of waste generated and taking a proactive approach to shift your business towards more sustainable practices. Used pallets are another eco-friendly alternative, extending the lifespan of old pallets to prevent new ones from being manufactured, thereby conserving natural resources.
Efficient supply chain
To streamline operations and reduce waste, it’s essential to establish an efficient supply chain. By ensuring that all areas of your supply chain collaborate closely, you can address any inefficiencies to ensure that the transportation of goods is as swift and methodical as possible. One way to achieve this is by employing the services of a trusted expert in logistics resources, like Rotomshop, to facilitate smooth transportation arrangements.
If you’re looking for ways to minimise waste when transporting goods, the team at Rotomshop can help. We cater to a diverse range of industries and supply everything you need to keep your business operations running smoothly.
Get in touch with us to find out more information or place an online order with us today.