Is the term green logistics an oxymoron
Is the Term Green Logistics an Oxymoron
Introduction
Over recent years there has been increasingly more pressure from the public and the government on organisations to decrease the environmental impact of their logistics operations. The distribution of products impairs air quailty, produces noise and vibration, causes motor vechicle accidents and contributes significantly to global warming through greenhouse gas emmisions. The term ‘green logistics’ describes attempts by organisations to minimise the environmental impact of logistic activities (Rodrigue, Slack and Comtois, 2001). Therefore, green logistics would imply environmentally friendly and efficient transportation and distribution systems. The paradoxes of green logistics make it challenging for organisations become greener (Rodrigue, Slack and Comtois, 2001). However, the term ‘green logistics’ is not an oxymoron, as this report will explain that through greener transport, green procurement and reverse logistics, companies can reduced their environmental impact thus achieving green logistics, and therefore it is not an oxymoron. The report will also look as how Fujitsu have implemented green logistic concepts and activities.
Green logistics” can be perceived as having the same objectives of logistics, whilst at the same time minimising environmental impact of the logistic activities. Therefore, green logistics reflects an organisation’s use of resources sparingly, ability to reduce waste and improve efficiency of operations, and satisfy the society’s expectation for environmental sustainability. (Lai and Wong, 2012).
Green Transportation
One way logisticians can achieve green logistics is by ‘greening’ transportation. “Transportation is the single largest environmental hazard in a logistics system” (Wu and Dunn,1995, p. 32), therefore in order to attain ‘green’ logistics, organisations need to make decisions which minimise the quantity of transport Co2 emissions. McKinnon, Browne and Whitening (2012)
Introduction
Over recent years there has been increasingly more pressure from the public and the government on organisations to decrease the environmental impact of their logistics operations. The distribution of products impairs air quailty, produces noise and vibration, causes motor vechicle accidents and contributes significantly to global warming through greenhouse gas emmisions. The term ‘green logistics’ describes attempts by organisations to minimise the environmental impact of logistic activities (Rodrigue, Slack and Comtois, 2001). Therefore, green logistics would imply environmentally friendly and efficient transportation and distribution systems. The paradoxes of green logistics make it challenging for organisations become greener (Rodrigue, Slack and Comtois, 2001). However, the term ‘green logistics’ is not an oxymoron, as this report will explain that through greener transport, green procurement and reverse logistics, companies can reduced their environmental impact thus achieving green logistics, and therefore it is not an oxymoron. The report will also look as how Fujitsu have implemented green logistic concepts and activities.
Green logistics” can be perceived as having the same objectives of logistics, whilst at the same time minimising environmental impact of the logistic activities. Therefore, green logistics reflects an organisation’s use of resources sparingly, ability to reduce waste and improve efficiency of operations, and satisfy the society’s expectation for environmental sustainability. (Lai and Wong, 2012).
Green Transportation
One way logisticians can achieve green logistics is by ‘greening’ transportation. “Transportation is the single largest environmental hazard in a logistics system” (Wu and Dunn,1995, p. 32), therefore in order to attain ‘green’ logistics, organisations need to make decisions which minimise the quantity of transport Co2 emissions. McKinnon, Browne and Whitening (2012)
References: Lai, K.-H., Wong, C.W.Y. (2012), "Green logistics management and performance: some evidence from Chinese manufacturing exporters", Omega, Vol. 40 No.3, pp.276-282. McKinnon, A, Browne, M., Whitening A. (2012) “Green Logistic: Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Logistics”, Kogan Page, pp. 134 - 286 Mulder, L Pazirandeh A. and Jafari H. (2013) "Making sense of green logistics", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 62 Iss: 8, pp.889 - 904 Rao, P., Holt, D Rodrigue, J.P., Slack, B., Comtois C., (2001), “Green Logistics (The Paradoxes of)”, Handbook of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, edited by Brewer, A., Button, K., Hensher, D., Pergamon, pp 339-351 Rogers, D.S Walton, S.V., Handfield, R.B., Melnyk, S.T. (1998), "The green supply chain: integrating suppliers into environmental management process", International Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management, Vol. 34 No.2, pp.2-11. Wu, H.-J., Dunn, S.C. (1995), "Environmentally responsible logistics systems", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 25 No.2, pp.20-38.