Short Analysis by VDI ZRE Highlights Resource Efficiency in Logistics

The Association of German Engineers (VDI), specifically the ‘VDI Center for Resource Efficiency’ (VDI ZRE), has created a short analysis on the topic of resource efficiency in trade and logistics. A typical supply chain was examined. The analysis presents various approaches to resource conservation.

(PressBox/Berlin) The transportation of products consumes far more raw materials than necessary for powering the transport vehicles. In addition to trucks on the road or rail, logistics properties, storage and conveying technology, as well as various packaging and loading aids are required. The VDI Center for Resource Efficiency (VDI ZRE) has prepared a short analysis on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, which provides impulses for the resource-efficient design of logistical business processes – towards green logistics.

Trade and logistics are among the highest-grossing sectors in Germany. Until the Covid19 epidemic, the trend was upward. Both consume large amounts of natural resources, particularly raw materials and energy. Through appropriate strategies and measures, companies can counteract and operate more resource-efficiently.

Potential for Green Logistics

To illustrate the potential for greater resource efficiency through the optimization of facilities and processes, a typical supply chain was examined. This includes both the logistical processes of manufacturing companies as well as those of wholesale and retail. Additionally, the necessary transport processes and the properties associated with the trade and logistics sector were analyzed for potential resource efficiency.

It became clear that the savings potential for materials and energy is very diverse. Successes can be achieved through the optimization of packaging, vehicles, route planning, as well as in the area of intralogistics and warehousing. Logistics properties also offer significant potential for resource efficiency. The short analysis presents an example where a logistics center, as a plus-energy building, generates more energy than is required for the building.

Cross-Cutting Strategies and Measures

Digitalization supports the cross-cutting strategy of leveraging the identified potentials more effectively. Processes can be better analyzed and optimized, and sources of error can be identified. Transport processes, intralogistics, and even packaging aspects can be made more efficient thanks to digitalization. Through the automation of processes, error rates decrease, thereby reducing material consumption due to less waste.

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