You don't have to be big to be green. That's the message the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) gave its members when it announced at its 2014 Convention and Expo that its Sustainability Council would reorganize and refocus its efforts.
The Sustainability Council was established in 2013 as a supplement to IWLA's Sustainable Logistics Initiative, which asked participants to track resource use and outputs in their facilities and to measure improvements. The council's mission is to promote sustainable warehouse practices among members. However, most of those who joined this subgroup were big companies with large-scale green projects.
To make its benefits more accessible to IWLA members of all sizes, the council has reduced its membership fees and is currently revising its policies to broaden its reach. The council will focus on promoting green practices and helping member companies plan, implement, and budget for their sustainability initiatives. Such projects might include energy-efficient facility lighting, the use of alternative energy sources, water conservation, and increased use of recycled materials, to name a few.
