This article was written by Aaron Thomas and was first published in the January 2025 issue of the UK Warehousing Association Magazine. You can read the original article here: UKWA Magazine January-February 2025, page 21.
As the warehousing sector faces increasing pressure to reach net zero, businesses are challenged by the complexities of tracking, measuring, and managing their environmental impact. In response, Hatmill’s Aaron Thomas, explores a digital approach tailored specifically for warehousing. This method simplifies sustainability efforts, equipping companies with tools to navigate their path to net zero with clarity and confidence.
A New Era for Sustainability in Warehousing
Meeting net zero targets has become essential across industries, with warehousing playing a pivotal role. Traditional methods like spreadsheets and manual data collection are outdated in a sector that demands accuracy and speed. For warehousing, sustainability efforts benefit most from digital solutions that streamline processes and enhance data insights. By adopting digital platforms, operators can centralise emissions tracking, reduce manual entry, and improve data accuracy. This shift helps companies identify emissions hotspots, optimise energy use, and comply with evolving sustainability regulations.
Moving Beyond Spreadsheets: The Power of Digital Data Collection in Warehousing
Warehousing operators are at different stages of tracking emissions. Some rely on spreadsheets and manual data gathering for energy use and waste, complicating data consistency. Digital solutions streamline data collection, allowing spending and usage data to be automatically consolidated. This data is then transformed into an emissions profile, reducing manual effort and improving data quality. This approach benefits all operators. For newcomers, digital platforms offer a straightforward way to start tracking emissions, while more established businesses gain a clear view of emissions across facilities, enabling teams to act on insights that drive sustainability.