Applying a green mindset to supply chain processes can deliver help cut costs for materials, labor, and transportation. Red Prairie's guide to balancing environmental objectives with strategic and financial goals offers seven practical tips.

1. Optimize Routing and Consolidation. Optimized routing and consolidation provides the Ëœbest possible path through a series of stops and ensures that drivers spend as little time as possible at each stop. Fleet clients can save an average of 10 to 15 percent in miles driven from improvements in this area, resulting in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

2. Improve Fleet Management. Some of the biggest benefits in this area come from a reduction in idling time and improved equipment use. In addition, more states and county governments have proposed laws to restrict the amount of time a vehicle can idle its main engine.

3. Increase Global Transport Efficiency. Delays due to port clearance documentation, poor duty payment coordination, or general lack of visibility into the global supply chain are costly not only in terms of lost sales but for the environment too.

4. Create System-generated Tasks and Communications. Many warehouses are still paper intensive when it comes to communications. However, electronic interfaces, RFID, voice-based technologies, and electronic Advanced Ship Notices (ASNs) can significantly reduce paper waste.

5. Take Full Advantage of Improved Packaging Strategies. Many companies are already taking steps to reduce packaging materials, but not everyone is reconfiguring their shelving to take full advantage of those gains. A sophisticated warehouse management solution can help streamline storage and accurately track crates and pallets so transportation materials can be more easily recycled and reused.

6. Deliver on Energy Conservation Strategies in the Warehouse. Energy-saving motion sensors for lights, solar power, and reusable pallets are a few ways to save money in the warehouse. In the U.S., more than 2 billion wooden pallets are used each year, which is equivalent to approximately 1 million acres of hardwood forest.

7. Improve Labor Management. Essentially, its about working smarter, not harder, and includes analyzing how a job should be performed in order to avoid wasted efforts. It also extends to optimizing work schedules to cut down on excessive commuting and unnecessary overtime.

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