Five innovations that are making eCommerce greener

From fuel-efficient ships to AI-driven robots, the transportation and logistics sector is becoming more efficient and reducing its carbon footprint. Hans Seijger, Chief Business Development Officer at Mitsubishi Logisnext Europe BV, looks at the technological innovations that are helping online shopping become more sustainable.

If the internet set in motion an online shopping revolution, Covid-19 has accelerated it. In the UK, the pandemic is set to add £5.3bn to eCommerce in 2020, while Western Europe is predicted to see an additional £8.3bn (US$10.8bn).

Businesses and supply chains have responded by making their warehouse and logistics operations move more quickly. However, with the volume of online shopping only expected to rise, fulfilling orders sustainably is imperative.

Here are five technologies that are helping deliveries reach their destination on time while minimising the impact on the environment.

Environmentally friendly ships

Currently, the shipping sector emits 940 million tonnes of CO2 annually and is responsible for about 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But new vessels such as Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's Fuel Gas Supply System (FGSS), powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), are providing the blueprint for efficiency and sustainability.

LNG engines are highly efficient and have near-zero sulfur oxide emissions. FGSS is expected to greatly contribute to the environmental performance of ships, not only to meet sulfur oxide (SOx) emission regulations, which came into effect globally on 1 January 2020, but also to improve the energy efficiency (CO2 emissions per unit of transportation) of the ship by approximately 40%, far exceeding the International Maritime Organization (IMO) EEDI Phase 3 requirements.

Automated warehouse systems

At Logisnext, we are seeing how modern automated warehouses are making eCommerce more efficient by marrying technology with physical infrastructure. Advanced software systems manage a seamless automation process that uses robotics to pick and pack orders so they are ready to ship to customers.

Several technologies are improving operational efficiency in warehouses, including: application programming interfaces (APIs) enable smooth data exchange and easy integration between different systems; cloud computing allows easier data access and exchange, as well as detailed reporting; and real-time tracking mechanisms ensure the right goods are being delivered to the right place at the right time.

Recyclable corrugated boxes

The brown corrugated box may seem unassuming, but it is a crucial piece of the eCommerce puzzle. Corrugated packaging wraps around 70% of the world’s products from producer to consumer – that’s a lot of cardboard. The good news is corrugated boxes are 95% recyclable and recycled paper provides 89% of the raw material for making them.

Modern machines can make cardboard boxes at a brisk pace. Devices such as the MHI Machinery Systems Flexo Folder Gluer model EVOL can make 400 boxes per minute. This efficiency means less energy consumed over time and a more sustainable process overall.

Automated guided vehicles

In view of current developments, demand for more efficient moving of pallets and boxes throughout the logistics ecosystem is huge. At Logisnext, we develop automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to perform repetitive tasks that would have been handled by forklifts, conveyor systems, or manual carts. Not only can AGVs transport raw materials through a factory to production lines, but they also move products around the warehouse which is a clear advantage against some conveyor systems.

Once packed into cardboard boxes, AGVs then move goods along pre-set routes to ensure they go where they need to be. By automating this process, goods are moved more quickly and energy consumption is minimised.

Electric forklifts

Sometimes AGVs are unable to do all the lifting and moving in a warehouse or may not be the appropriate vehicle for the job, particularly in cases where shorter distances are required for a task or there is repetitive movement involved.  This is where forklift drivers come in. In the past, all kinds of forklifts - even those powered by combustion engines that emitted noxious fumes - were used in the warehouse environment. In response to this, regulators, such as the European Union, have introduced stricter emissions standards for diesel and LPG powered forklifts, prohibiting the use of combustion trucks inside the warehouse and promoting the greater use of electric forklifts. Equally, as battery technology has improved, this has made it possible to build electric forklifts that offer the performance and the power, and endurance needed to reach areas of a warehouse that internal combustion trucks or AGVs cannot.

Sustainability through innovation

Artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics are revolutionising eCommerce. Through intelligent systems, businesses are transforming their processes and increasing productivity and accuracy – as well as efficiency and sustainability.

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