Creating a greener supply chain has three main elements to it, one supply chain analyst has written in an Industry Week report.
Andrew Kinder, director of product marketing at one US supply chain management (SCM) company, wrote that lowering energy usage in the manufacturing process, optimising the physical supply chain and redesigning a product to reduce material waste are three keys to a greener supply chain.
"Manufacturers can substantially reduce transportation, inventory, and production costs by using supply chain management principles to plan the most efficient logistics network possible - and be greener for the effort," said Mr Kinder.
"Indeed, most companies have ample opportunities to reduce costs and improve customer service through SCM."
However, supply chain management can involve a great deal of restructuring and is best carried out by a third party supply chain management company.
A supply chain management company can take an experienced look at a business' supply chain to assess the multiple areas in which a company could save money and the environment.
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