We all have a responsibility to keep on top of your environmental and social impacts. Not only do we need to be mindful of our carbon footprint, we also need to consider our impact on our local neighbours. It’s all about doing our best for the wider environment while simultaneously managing our local stakeholders.
At Cat® Lift Trucks, we recognise we can play a part in helping warehouse managers think and act in a environmentally and socially responsible way. So here are some of the ways we help our customers manage their environmental and social impacts, and some extra advice on how to reduce your carbon footprint and social impacts even further.
Our advice:
1) Keep noise levels low
Keeping noise levels low in warehouses is essential for many reasons. Firstly, it enables workers to concentrate and be fully alert to what is happening around them and secondly, it reduces the impact on your neighbours.
At Cat Lift Trucks, we’ve ensured many of our forklift trucks benefit from noise limiting features. These include rubber-mounted key components, fully insulated steel engine hoods and especially designed transmission gears.
2) Reduce your emissions
One of the more apparent ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to lower your emissions. This can be done by making sensible, environmentally friendly decisions and using eco alternatives wherever possible. Reducing your emissions will also improve your social impacts, as pollution can often cause problems with stakeholders in your local community.
There are many ways you can reduce emissions in your warehouse, but one way could be to opt for greener machinery. Our range of electric forklift trucks operate with efficient AC power, while still giving great performance; even in the most challenging of applications. By using Li-ion batteries instead of Lead-acid, you may reduce even more the CO2 footprint.
3) Switch out your lighting
Pollution doesn’t just come in the air; it also comes in the form of light. Although you might feel inclined to keep lights on at night, for the safety of your warehouse, this could be having an impact on the local community. As a result, you should consider alternative lighting solutions, such as motion sensor lighting.
Upgrading the lighting within your warehouse could also improve your energy consumption. That’s not only a great way to cut costs, but also an effective way to become more sustainable. If you’re not already using it, consider switching to LED lighting. Although the initial outlay for LED lighting tends to be higher than alternatives, their superior energy efficiency means costs are often recovered within a few years.
LED lights have a lower carbon footprint due to the fact they have much greater lifespans and a resistance to breakage. They reduce material wastage, and there are no highly toxic substances to dispose of when they finally expire.
If you want to find out more about your warehouse lighting options, read our warehouse lighting article here.
4) Renewable energy sources
Swapping your energy sources for renewable alternatives is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. If you have the capability to do so, why not consider installing solar panels to power your warehouse?
5) Recycle and re-use waste
Most warehouses generate a notable amount of waste. But there are plenty of ways you can minimise the environmental impacts of the waste you produce.
Ensure your workers are aware of every type of material or product that can be recycled, to reduce the amount going to landfill, and look for clever and unique ways to re-use your waste. For example, carboard boxes, totes and pallets could be used to create storage solutions.
6) Ensure your warehouse is properly insulated
Is your warehouse insulated? Could it be using a better, more efficient type of insulation?
Insulating your warehouse is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Insulation helps keep your warehouse warm in the winter and cool in the summer which has a direct impact on energy savings. It also acts as a sound barrier, reducing the noise pollution which could be impacting your neighbours.
Improving your warehouse operations
Hopefully this article has given you a few ideas on how you can improve your environmental impacts and how to maintain your social responsibility.
At Cat Lift Trucks, we’re dedicated to helping our customers improve their processes. We do that not only through our fleet of materials handling equipment, but also through the advice and information we make available on our website. Don’t forget to check out our blog for lots of helpful tips and advice, including this article on improving warehouse efficiency and this one on keeping your core assets in shape.
