View original at insidefmcg.com.au

In addition to productivity and safety advantages, automated warehouse and logistics technologies have a range of environmental sustainability benefits For a long time, the primary driver of warehousing and logistics automation advances has been efficiency. Robots and machinery can perform repetitive and complex tasks faster, safer and with greater precision than manual methods ever could. But what about the environmental benefits of automation? These may not always be the most obvious focus when it comes to FMCG warehousing and logistics applications, but any technology that can save costs and simultaneously help to achieve sustainable, eco-friendly outcomes, has a competitive edge. The advantages of automation (including those that follow) make FMCG logistics facilities more neighbourhood friendly. Less space, better hygiene and reduced fossil fuel needs are major assets for distribution facilities located in densely populated regions or near residential areas. A smaller footprint Automation has many benefits, including the environmental advantage of occupying a smaller physical footprint in a warehouse or logistics facility. Products can be stacked neatly, almost right to the roof, and an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) can swiftly select products from anywhere in a compact grid. Not only is less land required for a fully functioning warehouse, but the carbon footprint is further reduced when you consider that a smaller space will need less electricity, water and other resources. Based on Swisslog’s past projects, when comparing a manual warehouse to an ASRS, up to 60 per cent less space is required. And the carbon footprint of a warehouse or logistics facility is further reduced when automation technologies perform tasks previously undertaken by fossil-fuel powered materials handling alternatives. Reduced power consumption An ASRS can operate in the dark, leading to significant savings in electricity and carbon emissions. And, as technology advances, further power-saving features are incorporated […]