How To Make Your Logistics More Sustainable

Julie Starr • August 16, 2021



Climate change has been affecting the planet at an increasingly alarming rate. While countless factors are driving that, part of it is how companies operate. The logistics behind these firms can be wasteful and generate a lot of carbon dioxide.

While you might think that that’s the cost of doing business, it doesn’t have to be. You could take advantage of sustainable logistics. If this is an unfamiliar term to you, then you’ll want to know what it is and how it can benefit you.

Coupled with that, you should find out how to make your logistics more sustainable. Though you could choose certain fuel sources, such as Tri Gas & Oil , there are multiple other things that you can do.

But first, it’s worth looking at what sustainable logistics actually is.

What Is Sustainable Logistics?

It’s been estimated that the world’s population will grow significantly in the next few decades. That’ll lead to a steady, if not sharp, increase in demand for goods and services. That will have just as much of an increase on the environment, thanks to the logistics of many companies.

Unless supply chains are made more sustainable, this rise will lead to a larger impact on the environment. With that, climate change will affect people much more than it is now. Companies need to adapt their supply chains to minimize that impact on the environment.

The process of achieving that goal is what’s known as sustainable logistics.

Why Is It Important?

You might be wondering why sustainable logistics is important. A lot of this could be related to e-commerce, which has boomed over the past few years. More people ordering online has led to more deliveries being made.

That’s resulted in more of an environmental impact than ever, with changes showing no signs of slowing down. Making your logistics more sustainable dampens – if not outright removes – the impact that your company will have.

There are several other reasons why many companies, especially e-commerce ones, are trying to make their logistics more sustainable . The largest of these are:

  • Customers focus more on a product’s or service’s sustainability before buying;
  • More governmental mandates are coming in focusing on the issue;
  • More employees are demanding that their employers are environmentally friendly.

With those in mind, it might be mandatory to reduce the environmental impact your company has. If it isn’t, then it might be in the years to come.

Tips For Making Your Logistics More Sustainable

Make Use Of Your Data

There’s a lot involved in logistics and the supply chain, meaning there’s a lot to manage. There’s also a lot of information being taken in, even if you’re not doing so intentionally. Drivers can tell you, for example, what times people are unlikely to be home for deliveries.

Factors like these, which require multiple trips for one delivery, affect your company’s carbon footprint. Using the data that comes in means that you can optimize your operations. That means putting in reporting and tracking tools, although that’s something many firms should do anyway.

With these, you can determine the best time to arrange deliveries, optimize routes, and much more. These will make your logistics network more sustainable. You can also optimize for profitability at the same time, should this match up with your sustainability goals.

Get Closer To Your Customers

If you’re based close to your customers, then you won’t need to travel too far to deliver to them. While that isn’t always an option, you could consider pop-up warehouses. These specifically target last-mile deliveries, which can often be the least environmentally friendly aspect of a delivery.

Pop-up warehouses minimize this, as you can make multiple local deliveries from the same warehouse. Not only does this make deliveries more sustainable, but customers don’t have to wait too long for a delivery. You can also be more flexible with your delivery schedule.

That makes it a win-win for everybody involved.

Optimize Your Sites

If your business has multiple sites, then it could have a large environmental impact. If you need to deliver between them regularly, then that will make the issue worse. Optimizing your workplaces and any deliveries between them should be a priority.

There are multiple areas that you can focus on, depending on your industry. Analyzing routes and delivery times should be your first step, as you can optimize for fuel consumption and other factors.

You should also look at the equipment you use. Could this be upgraded to make it more fuel-efficient? Will making changes streamline the production and delivery process? Are there any areas where you can cut down on carbon emissions?

Answering these questions and implementing potential solutions should be your first step in making your logistics more sustainable. You should see this as an ongoing process, as you can find more areas to improve the more you look.

Add IoT Devices For Minor Improvements

The Internet of Things (IoT) has made doing business much easier across multiple industries. That’s only when properly utilized, however. Depending on what industry you’re in, these can vary. There are several areas that the IoT can help you make your logistics more sustainable.

Many of these revolve around reducing fuel consumption. If a vehicle averages 80km per hour, for example, it could save on 10% of fuel. Making sure your tire pressure is optimal can also have an impact on your fuel consumption.

How to optimize these can vary depending on exact circumstances. Utilizing the IoT will help you track and analyze different areas, letting you optimize for sustainability. You should also save on money with these, especially when it comes to fuel costs.

Wrapping Up

There are multiple reasons why you should make your logistics more sustainable. These can revolve around increased sales and revenue, as potential customers will be more attracted to your company. The same can be said for potential employees, giving you greater access to a wider talent pool.

That’s without mentioning the environmental benefits that it will offer. While you might have to put an upfront investment to accomplish this, it’ll be worth it in the long term. Once you know how to make your logistics more sustainable.

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.