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What Does it Mean to Have a Sustainable Supply Chain?
Wikipedia defines supply chain sustainability as “a business issue affecting an organization supply chain or logistics network in terms of environmental, risk and waste costs.” It is increasingly seen by both executives and consumers as essential to both the economy and our planet’s future. A sustainable supply chain helps the environment while also enhancing brand reputation…
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Helpful Ways to Recycle at Work and Home
At iGPS, environmental sustainability is a key component of our business model. In honor of Global Recycling Day on March 18th, we surveyed iGPS team members to learn more about their recycling and sustainability habits and learn more about efforts they have made to reduce their carbon footprint. Although we were pleased to learn that…
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The Impact of Reusable Packaging and Shipping Platforms
By now, most of us are accustomed to the habit of dropping a plastic water bottle or food container into a recycling bin instead of a trash can. But as we observe Global Recycling Day, it is worth remembering that our individual recycling efforts are merely the tip of the sustainability iceberg. To make a…
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How to Simplify Pallet Sorting and Handling
Warehouse managers often view pallet sorting and handling as wasted time. While shipping platforms are necessary tools, they also require maintenance and storage. And the more time warehouse workers spend handling and storing empty pallets, the less time they can dedicate to essential tasks like managing inventory, receiving orders, and loading shipments. By simplifying pallet…
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Building a Cradle-to-Cradle Supply Chain
The cradle-to-cradle supply chain is a relatively new idea that builds upon the circular business model. When executed correctly, this strategy makes an entire network more sustainable while improving resource use and cutting costs. Luckily, there are many simple ways companies can develop a cradle-to-cradle approach and take advantage of these benefits. Managers can initiate…
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Implementing Continuous Improvement in the Supply Chain
Throughout the Industrial Age businesses have looked for continuous improvement in the supply chain. Managers sought ways to streamline operations and eliminate waste by establishing working protocols, leveraging new technology, or even shifting their business models. As times change, successful businesses adapt and modernize. Technology provides many opportunities to support a continuous improvement process, but…
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How to Improve Pallet Durability
We’re all familiar with the scene: broken wood block pallets piled against a warehouse wall. Wood pallets like these have served their useful lifespan of around 15 to 20 trips across the supply chain and are often bound for the local landfill—or perhaps a good bonfire. On average, once every three to four trips through…
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5 Warehouse Automation Trends and What They Can Do for You
The warehouse automation market—composed of innovative practices and machinery that cut labor costs, protect workers, and accelerate operations—is predicted to reach $89 billion by 2026. As managers begin to adopt these warehouse practices, they often face a steep learning curve. One way managers can flatten the learning curve is by ensuring that they approach the…
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Best Practices for Automatic Pallet Wrapper Safety
If your facility invested in an automatic pallet wrapper, then you’re likely already experiencing total cost of business (TCOB) reductions. Consider the efficiency gains in sheer productivity. Remember when one warehouse worker would wrap maybe thirty pallets over the course of an entire workday? Entry model turntable wrappers can wrap as many in one hour,…
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How 5S in the Warehouse Can Increase Throughput and Reduce Waste
Early in Hiroyuki Hirano’s classic sourcebook on 5S methodology in warehouse operations and factories, 5 Pillars of the Visual Workplace, he introduces readers to the “red-tag” strategy for visualizing waste. The enemy, Hirano writes, is waste, and the red-tag strategy provides a visual metric for identifying accumulated waste on the factory and warehouse floors. As…
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3 Cold Chain Logistics Challenges—And How to Solve Them
Cold chain management has transformed to meet the growing global demand for fresh food and pharmaceuticals. This transformation has not always been easy, though: businesses running cold chain logistics operations often struggle to transport and store perishable food products while maintaining their safety and freshness. Pharmaceutical products such as vaccines are particularly prone to damage…
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Pallet Pooling, Supply Chain Sustainability Circular Economy, Supply Chain: Lowering Your Total Cost of BusinessReverse Logistics and Sustainability: Reducing Waste in the Supply Chain
Reverse logistics, or aftermarket logistics, describes an integral part of supply chain operations where materials and products must return to their point of origin for proper disposal or value recapturing. By integrating reverse logistics and sustainability, companies can reduce waste generated in the supply chain, lowering their carbon emissions and environmental footprint. This eventually improves…