From Kevin Fullerton: Sustainability First–A New Generation of Warehouses

The idea of ‘sustainability’ was first introduced by the United Nations in 1987 and it kept developing continuously since.

As recently as 2009, Pepsico famously introduced “Performing with conscience,” an environmentally friendly project which seemed to prove that sustainability was on its way to become a tangible major issue for small companies and big groups alike.

A new generation of warehouses and storage facilities has thus been developed with innovative solutions to optimise space, reduce waste and provide a better working environment for employees.

Although cutting costs is still what ultimately matters the most for businesses, they are slowly but surely catching up with green initiatives. Here are a few great examples of their recently found green consciousness.

1. Vertical spaces

Warehouses are evolving considerably at the moment, particularly in terms of height. Companies are increasingly turning to high-rise warehouses to find innovative solutions to palleting and production in general.

Great examples of warehouse logistics can now be found all over the world, with a bigger concentration in Germany, where vertical warehouses often reach up to 30 meters.

With the help of warehouse mezzanine floors, vertical lifts and conveyors, they offer an ideal option to solve the lack of space issue in bigger cities and help increase productivity.

Construction and maintenance costs are also lowered as a result, turning into a win-win situation.

2. Chasing light

Smarter automated buildings are all the rage at the moment: energy management systems can save five to twenty percent on energy bills without the need to invest considerable sums.

By saving on energy, equipment lasts longer, savings are being made and production is overall more efficient. Automated buildings are also a great answer to environmental legislation recently introduced in various countries.

Lighting in particular is one of the biggest culprits in terms of energy, representing up to 30 percent of the overall energy used in a warehouse.

Turning off lighting in areas of the building that are not consistently used and using energy efficient fixtures is a good way to start. This is particularly true when the actual facility cannot be upgraded to bring in natural light with clear glass walls and ceilings.

3. Diminishing environmental impact: evaluating systems

Since the mid nineties, the environmental impact of the construction, renovation and demolition industry has led most industrialised countries to introduce specific laws to help these sectors become greener.

The BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) in the UK and the LEED ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in the US are amongst the most broadly used systems to evaluate and attest the environmental and social qualities of a building.

These rating systems set high standards in terms of sustainability and green warehouses and are quickly becoming the norm.