Impact of Hazardous Materials on Logistics Success
Introduction
In the past, freight logistics systems have been focused primarily on the need to increase the efficiency of industrial commodity production on the aspects of a timely delivery of commodities and profits. However, in the last 15 years, the impact of hazardous commodities in both the domestic and international logistics has been of immense concern. The effects of the hazardous commodities can be categorized under Economic, Ecological, and Social aspects. Economic impacts focus on traffic congestion and resource waste (U.K Round Table, 1996). The Ecological impacts entail the effects of the hazardous commodities on climate change and greenhouse gasses, destruction of ecosystem and species extinction, the use of non-renewable fossil fuels, as well as the effects of hazardous wastes products such as oil and tires. On the hand, the social impacts focus on the loss of Greenfield sites and adverse effects on public health.
Numerous studies have been conducted to boost the awareness on the various hazardous commodities along with their consequences, and to formulate schemes that can reduce the environmental effects of freight transportation. All these evaluations aim at providing a universal framework on and for the environmental sustainability concept. According to Council of Logistics Management, successful domestic and international logistics entails planning, controlling, and implementing aspects that ensure efficient and effective flow and storage of commodities and items for the purpose of fulfilling the customer requirements while at the same time promoting environmental sustainability. Failure to formulate efficient logistics and approaches may impact negatively on the environmental sustainability and result in an increase in environmental externalities from the hazardous items.
Integration of Green Logistics Systems
One way of minimizing adverse effects of the hazardous commodities on the environment by assessing Green logistics solutions based on environmental, occupational safety, community health, and public health impacts. These aspects have a significant impact on the economy, society and most importantly, the freight logistics sector. The framework for the goals of green logistics includes sustainability, mobility, and livability (Taniguchi et al., 2002). These aspects have a direct impact on the global competitiveness, efficiency in operations, security of labor force, and environmental sustainability of the overall logistics systems. However, according to Rodrigue et al. (2001), the objectives of the domestic/ intentional logistics may not always go according to Green logistics.
Regulatory Assessment
The process of determining various methods to divert the emissions of the hazardous items away from high-impact settings needs a wide range of quantification measure of effects. Notably, inefficient strategies in the placement of public terminals could impact negatively on the logistic systems. Apparently, the logistics systems are required to develop various metrics to determine the effects of emissions. Examples are toxicity potential, intake fraction, and acidification. These measures help to assess different methods that will reduce the impacts of the hazardous commodities on the logistics systems.
Industries Practices and Policies
The extent of the emissions from the hazardous products greatly influences the industrial operations and practices. One of the practical approaches involves formulating a high standard of equipment performance in transportation vehicles like trucks and ships. Other initiatives include reducing drag forces and securing loose tarpaulins. Regarding the employees welfare, drivers operating on the commodities are required to reduce fuel consumption by limiting the driver average speeds, accessory usage, and through shifting techniques. Ideally, the policies allow a company to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency while saving costs with relatively minor adjustments (Ang-Olson et al., 2005).
Technological Approaches
The technological advancement greatly influences the modern transport logistic systems. The increase in production of hazardous commodities is causing industries to consider various technological approaches, to reduce the detrimental effects and emission factors. Industries have enacted logistics strategies such as tractor and truck tracking, shipment cargo tracking, route adherence monitoring, as well as active driver identification and verification (The Freight Technology, 2005). Also, freight technologies geared at ensuring facilities pre-combustion modifications systems are implemented.
Impact Considerations
This aspect focuses on reducing the hazardous effects through aiming at their effect reduction irrespective of their overall emission levels. For instance, industries producing the hazardous commodities are prohibited from operating near residential areas. This logistic measure geographically separates the industry from the general public with the aim of maintaining health standards. Impacts of such actions can be measured through minimizing the external costs of freight transport, an element known to comprise a major environmental externalities component. Logistics operations adopted to reduce the hazardous commodities should be practicable and achievable
Changing Freight Operations
Measurement techniques and monitoring systems to assess the emissions factors are required through initiating public projects and state’s legislations. Some of these approaches may be upheld since they ensure reduction of the hazardous effects and subsequent costs. Since there has been a rising trend in the freight transportation demand, a change in the freight operations may incur a significant impact on both domestic and international freight logistic sector
Demand and Economic Environment
This concept analyzes the effects of hazardous commodities on the geographical distribution of different logistics and supply chains. The integration of regional production and supply structures to mitigate the hazardous effects may have a direct impact on the overall commodity demand in the supply chain. Aspects that analyze logistics through commodities supply can be considered. The logistics systems are required to initiates various transformations production practices such as designing products to promote remanufacturing as well as reducing the material requirements of the product (Pastowski, 1997). Though such approaches could reduce environmental impacts of the hazardous item, it may also cause a shift in consumer demand.
Rising Material Handling Logistic Costs
The scale of how the hazardous commodities are produced and handled has raised ethical questions. The logistics systems are required to incorporate powerful shipping and freight strategies that enhance workers safety as well as environmental protection controls (Chandrashekaran, 2006). Firms are required to initiate ship dismantling and recycling procedures that ensure an efficient mechanism to dispose of the materials in legal and environmentally ways. Additionally, the general public is becoming increasingly concerned about firm’s material handling and disposal.
Conclusion
Logistics industries should apply various tools for analysis of both the domestic/international logistic systems and supply chain management, with the primary aim of resolving impacts of hazardous commodities. This initiative will assist in creating a sustainable development that satisfies the requirements of the current generation efficiently without compromising the demands of future generations. The said analysis should be made based on economic, social, and ecological perspectives to determine their impact on logistics systems. Besides, various approaches which encompass green logistics systems can be incorporated to guide the logistics industry through policies that will include sustainable policies. These entities will help reduce and entirely prevent the hazardous impacts of commodities/ items on both domestic and international logistics.
References
Ang-Olson, Jeffrey, D. & Sergio, O. (2005). Assessing the effects of freight movement on air. (2005, June 9). Retrieved March 18, 2016, from https://www.google.com/search?q=Ang-Olson%2C+Jeffrey%2C+D.+%26+Sergio%2C+O.+%282005%29.+Assessing+the+effects+of+freight+Movement+on+air&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
Chandrashekaran, N. (2006). Towards logistics effectiveness in India. Material Management Review, 52 (2), pp.10
Pastowski, A. (1997). Decoupling Economic Development and Freight for Reducing its Negative Impacts: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy
Rodrigue, J., Brian, S. & Claude, C. (2001). In Handbook of logistics and Supply- Chain Management. Green Logistics, (30), 339-350.
Taniguchi, E., Tadashi, Y. & Naka, Y. (2002). Modeling The Effects Of Logistical Matching Systems On Transport, In Urban Transport VIII, 407-416: Wit Press.
The Freight Technology Story: Intelligent Freight Technologies and Their Benefits - FHWA Freight Management and Operations. (2005.). Retrieved from http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/intermodal/freight_tech_story/freight_tech_story.htm
U.K Round Table on Sustainable development. (1996). Defining a Sustainable Transport Sector. UK. Round Table on Sustainable development.
