Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from the Sustainable Supply Chains Initiative have revealed that the logistics industry is responsible for 11% of global carbon emissions.
The researchers included data from ports and warehouses in their findings. The highest contribution to these emissions (41%) is temperature control. Temperature management includes heating warehouses to a comfortable working temperature and storing perishable goods at cool or freezing temperatures. After temperature control, the next highest factor in carbon emissions is lighting, which accounts for 18% of emissions from logistics centres. The next highest cause is intralogistics, which includes conveyors, forklifts and automated warehouse technology.
The researchers point out that high emissions are a high financial cost for a company, which can be saved if fewer resources are used.
Researchers have highlighted ways to reduce emissions. These include installing renewable energy systems and heat pumps. Energy-efficient lighting systems and smart energy monitoring systems also help. A good warehouse equipment manufacturer makes manual handling and storage equipment using steel that contains recycled steel.
The first step towards energy savings is to monitor existing systems to accurately identify how electricity is used, then to determine which areas to prioritise for energy savings. The researchers found that many companies they approached for data for their report on energy use by the logistics industry were unable to supply information about their use of electricity.
Dr Kertsin Dibers, the author of the study, adds that understanding resource consumption is an important step to reducing carbon emissions.
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