Technological Innovations Propelling the Sustainable Evolution in Logistics: From Unmanned Aircraft to Eco-friendly Vehicles
Revolutionizing Supply Chain Sustainability with Modern Technology
By Rose Morrison, Managing Editor of Renovated
The incorporation of innovative technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, mobile robotics, three-dimensional printing, biofuel-compatible engines, green refrigerants, and electric vehicles promises to significantly boost the sustainability of supply chains. Let's delve into some of the practical applications of these technologies:
Camera-equipped Drones
Drones, often associated with recreational or military applications, are finding a practical purpose in inventory management within warehouses. Equipped with cameras and computer vision, these small, agile machines can swiftly scan barcodes, verify product placement, and report discrepancies. Those in charge of warehouses can use this data to efficiently track stock levels, product condition, and expiration dates. This information helps minimize waste and make more informed decisions, such as setting up sales to clear expiring products before they go to waste.
The data gathered by drones can be easily accessed through user dashboards for real-time tracking and analysis. Consequently, organizations can implement just-in-time inventory management, ensuring that they order only what they need, reducing transportation-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Moreover, drones may also find use in last-mile delivery, contributing to a more environmentally-friendly logistics sector. The drone delivery market is projected to reach $4.35 billion by 2027, expanding from $1.260 billion in 2021, as the technology becomes more efficient and widespread.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize the way supply chain management prioritizes sustainability. Route planning, fuel consumption optimization, and predictive analytics are the key areas where AI is already making a difference.
AI can optimize routes for vehicles, minimizing fuel consumption and emissions by calculating the most efficient routes. Predictive analytics, on the other hand, allows organizations to anticipate equipment failures, schedule preventive maintenance, and extend the lifespan of their machines. Predictive maintenance takes this concept a step further, fixing parts as soon as wear signs become apparent. The fewer parts that require replacement, the less demand there is for the materials needed for manufacturing and mining.
Adopting AI not only reduces resource waste and CO2 emissions, but also provides substantial financial benefits. According to experts, predictive maintenance lowers maintenance expenses by up to 20% and unplanned outages by 50%, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and reduced equipment downtime.
Internet-enabled Sensors
The Internet of Things (IoT) technology, already prevalent in numerous industries, is making its way into supply chain management. IoT sensors collect real-time environmental data, with applications ranging from temperature monitoring to motion-activated lighting.
By analyzing the data generated by IoT sensors, organizations can make informed decisions to improve their sustainability efforts. For example, tracking temperature in cold chain storage reduces waste by ensuring that perishable goods stay within safe temperature ranges. Enhanced knowledge of resource usage empowers organizations to implement targeted interventions, making their operations more efficient and eco-friendly.
Wayne Vandekraak, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at OptConnect, underscores the importance of IoT in achieving sustainability goals in retail. In an interview, he stated, "By adopting IoT sensors and data analytics, retailers can employ first-in, first-out (FIFO) approaches, guaranteeing that products with shorter shelf lives are sold first, while cloud-based systems provide valuable insights to streamline operations and meet sustainability targets."
Mobile Robotics
Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have propelled the development of robotics into a new era, making it increasingly accessible to supply chain professionals. Mobile and collaborative robots are becoming commonplace in warehouses, handling tasks such as order picking and packing, working more efficiently than humans and making fewer errors.
The widespread adoption of mobile robotics in supply chain operations offers numerous benefits, such as keeping lights off most of the time and adopting a less stringent temperature control regime, thereby reducing the facility's carbon footprint. The deployment of renewable energy sources to recharge the robots' batteries further minimizes their impact on the environment.
Three-Dimensional Printing
Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology enables the production of replacement components for vehicles on demand, theoretically reducing the need for transportation and associated carbon emissions. Since 3D printers can print parts in various materials, they can replace everything from worn seat belts to leaking fuel lines.
3D-printed parts are comparatively cost-effective and have a long shelf life, making them a viable alternative to replacement parts typically provided by original equipment manufacturers. In-house production also eliminates the need for transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, decision-makers can opt for eco-friendly materials.
Biofuel-Compatible Engines
Transportation remains one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, with 91% of activities currently relying on fossil fuels. These fuel sources are responsible for 8 billion tons of CO2 emissions annually, accounting for approximately 25% of the 34.6 billion tons of carbon emissions humans generate annually through burning fossil fuels.
Biofuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil, offer a sustainable alternative by generating lower emissions compared to fossil fuels. The primary challenge is adapting conventional engines to handle biofuels without succumbing to corrosion or filter clogs due to increased oxygen and water content. Engineering engines compatible with biofuels reduces their greenhouse gas output and eliminates the need for harmful mining and oil extraction activities that create indirect emissions.
When professionals ensure that the animal or plant products used to create biofuel are sourced sustainably, they can maximize their positive impact.
Green Refrigerants
The "cold chain," a temperature-controlled supply chain responsible for transporting goods like meat, dairy products, and pharmaceuticals, relies heavily on refrigerated containers powered primarily by fossil fuels. These containers are notorious for their energy consumption, with some refrigerants contributing significantly to global warming.
For instance, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were once notorious for causing ozone depletion, whereas hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) – their replacements – are harmful greenhouse gases with high global warming potential. The need for low-global warming potential alternatives arises as a result. Although limited options for low-GWP alternatives with comparable technical performance exist, several viable candidates are available. Replacing synthetic refrigerants with sustainable counterparts could reduce cold storage units' carbon footprint by up to 27.17%, decrease greenhouse gas potency by as much as 75.5%, and lower life cycle costs by up to 12%.
Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained widespread attention for their zero tailpipe emissions, making them an attractive option for reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The real advantage lies in charging EVs with renewable energy sources, making their carbon impact even more favorable.
Although initial focus has centered on passenger vehicle sales, commercial EV adoption has grown rapidly as technology has advanced. These vehicles are becoming increasingly comparable to their gas-powered counterparts in terms of performance and efficiency.
Mark Braby, the Chief Commercial Officer at Synop, discussed the surge in commercial EV adoption in a recent interview, stating, "The commercial EV sector is on an impressive growth trajectory, particularly in the heavy truck market, with a notable 250% increase in adoption. While challenges remain for long-haul EV trucks, their adoption for regional deliveries is gathering momentum across all states."
Bidirectional charging technology is the next frontier, allowing EV batteries to send and receive power from the grid as needed. This capability could extend battery lifespan and enable rapid charging in as little as 20 minutes. According to some estimates, bidirectional charging could reduce the European Union's dependency on stationary storage systems by 92% by 2040.
In conclusion, the availability of monitoring and automation technologies provides an unprecedented opportunity for organizations to make their supply chains more sustainable. Even the smallest businesses can benefit from adopting at least one of these solutions, considering transportation's substantial resource drain. Embracing these technologies will not only improve supply chains' efficiency but also make them a force for environmental preservation.
About the Author
Rose is the managing editor of Renovated and has been writing in the construction, landscaping, and sustainable building sectors for over six years. Her passion lies in improving environments, reducing carbon footprints, and promoting well-being across multiple industries.
- Incorporating camera-equipped drones into warehouse inventory management can help minimize waste, Make informed decisions about stock levels, product condition, and expiration dates, and employ just-in-time inventory management, thereby reducing transportation-related CO2 emissions.
- Adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in route planning, fuel consumption optimization, and predictive analytics can optimize routes for vehicles, manage equipment failures, and extend machine lifespan, reducing resource waste and CO2 emissions, while providing substantial financial benefits.
- Internet-enabled sensors can collect real-time environmental data in supply chain management, enhancing knowledge of resource usage, and facilitating more informed decisions to improve sustainability efforts, such as temperature monitoring in cold chain storage.
- The widespread adoption of mobile robotics in supply chain operations offers benefits like minimizing carbon footprint, keeping lights off, adopting less stringent temperature control regimes, and using renewable energy sources to recharge the robots' batteries, making their operations more efficient and eco-friendly.
