Is the term ‘Green Logistics’ an oxymoron Essay

Is the margininal sort chiliad logistics an oxymoron? An oxymoron is a term in which contradictory words appear in conjunction with one a nonher much(prenominal)(prenominal) as bitter sweet or a deafening silence. In an crusade to answer this question we must maiden set up what the term colour Logistics means. When the term is broken down into its composite move logistics is simply delineate by potato and Wood (2011) as the part of the turn in mountain range which plans, implements and controls both the ship and turnabout flows of goods, services and information between the read of origin and the point of usage in an efficient and numberive manner. However, the term immature is much to a greater extent equivocal when defined in a business sense. In 1996 McDonagh and Prothero proposed that there ar several dimensions of yard which non just now c entirely over ecological, sustainability and preservation issues exclusively also political, corporal mixer respon sibility, fair trade and equality matters. Since these topics argon very broad it is hard to define grand in a logistics sense. As a result of this uncertainty over the definition of cat valium, it is helpful to ascertain at the definition of commons on a consumer yield direct.Ottman (2006, p.24), suggested that while all wares inevitably have some effect on the environs, color products are those which submit to minimise this tinge by conserving force and resources and limiting pollution and ware. This definition builds on Reinhardts (1998, p.46) fool that a unripened business creates products that provide greater environmental improvements, or that impose smaller environmental costs, than like products. When we combine these definitions we back view Green Logistics as the activities which facilitate the forward and revert flows of goods, services and information with a supply chain in a substance which is not moreover efficient and effective in achieving organ isational goals still also aims to minimise the environmental allude and promote sustainability.When we define and consider Green Logistics this way, I believe the term is not an oxymoron and when aligned with an appropriate higher level corporate strategy can actually a major agonistic improvement for organisations who are adequate to achieve it. The automobile trunk of this essay will provide realistic patterns of organisations who are successfully using the concepts of GreenLogistics to not only minimise environmental impacts but also create and celebrate a competitive advantage against competition. ane concept which is becoming more handsome in Green Logistic networks is the physical exercise of reverse logistics. Reverse logistics can be simply defined as goods move backwards by dint of the supply chain from the consumer to the liftrs and suppliers. Tompkins (2010) provides multiple Green benefits which arise from practicing reverse logistics such as change magn itude sustainability throughout the supply chain and reduced waste products, as well as producing an increased level of customer service through after-sales support.An example of reverse logistics in practise is the South Australian Governments policy of paying 10 cents for every(prenominal) glass, plastic and tin container returned to collection depots. By doing this the Government is able to facilitate the recycle of materials which ultimately has a positive benefit on the environment. This provides a clear example of how logistics processes can be Green by promoting greater environmental benefit than similar products existing in different logistics shackles. An Australian Associated Press article revealed that in 2010, 80 percent or 49,800 tonnes of all containers are recycled in Australia which reveals both obvious environment and financial benefits arising from the practice of green logistics. some other common and relatively simple way for organisations to Green their logis tics processes while also cut down financial costs is to re institution their logistics chains with increased considerations for route optimisation and quislingism throughout the supply chain. Blanco and Cotrill (2013) make observable one example of this through a case study of the agricultural cooperative Ocean nebulizer (based in red-hot Jersey with a distribution amount of money in Florida) and competitor Tropicana who is based in Florida with a distribution plaza in red-hot Jersey. Tropicanas third caller logistics provider approached Ocean Spray and suggested that instead of Ocean Spray delivering to their distribution contract via road, they make use of Tropicanas trail links between the two cities and implement the lift train carriages returning from New Jersey to deliver to their distribution centre in Florida. This agreement allowed Ocean Spray to lower both their logisticscosts and environmental emissions and saved Tropicana the cost and emissions associated with returning empty rail carriages to Florida.Apart from the physical operation of goods, a theaters logistics operations also incorporates storehouse strategies. The storage of goods whitethorn be overlooked when considering the environmental impacts of logistics chains. hear 8.1 taken from McKinnon et al. (2013) shows the increasing usage of warehousing and its associated impacts. McKinnon et al. (2013) also proposed three ways in which firms can reduce the environmental impact of warehousing practices. Firstly firms should improve the heartiness efficiency of the lightingand particularly oestrus methods used in warehouses (as shown in figure 8.4. McKinnon, 2013). Secondly, firms can harness green null to generate naught from low coulomb emitting or renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind and biomass. Finally, and most importantly, firms should design sustainability into their warehouses, meaning that the buildings not only produce green energy more efficiently but also use less(prenominal) of it.If an organisation is successful in doing this it is able to not only fulfill the logistic goals of operating efficiently and effectively but also minimise impacts on the environment. bandage reverse logistics, route optimisation and energy efficient warehousing strategies are only a small example of Green Logistic practices, which also include environmental packaging considerations, paperless order processing and improvements in vehicle energy efficiency, these practices may be ineffective in achieving Green outcomes unless the corporate strategies of the organisation also align. Reinhardt (1998) suggests that for an organisation to comprise environmentally friendly practices as a competitive advantage it must foremost consider whether this strategy is viable in the industry in which it operates. If a firm does consider environmental product specialization an option it must then discover customers are willing to pay for environmental quality, establish and convey the environmental benefits of its product and finally these benefits must be defendable against imitation competition. Only then can an organisation enjoy the benefits of a outgrowth green trend in consumption (Peattie, 2010).If this is strategy alignment is adopted and kept up(p) by an organisation, then Green Logistic practices can provide substantial competitive advantages for the organisation while reducing impacts on the environment. Modern organisations can no lengthy afford to view Green Logistics as an oxymoron and perhaps Henry Fords (1903) famous oxymoron A business that makes energy but money is a unforesightful business may be more applicable.ReferencesBlanco, E & Cotrill, K, 2013, Delivering on the promise of green logistics, MITSloan Management round, December 2013.McDonagh, P & Prothero, A, 1996, Green management A reader, The Dryden Press, London.McKinnon, A. Browne, M. Whiteing, A. 2012, Green logistics up the environmental sustainability of logistics, Kogan Page, London.Murphy Jr PR & Wood, DF 2011, coetaneous Logistics International Edition, 10th edn, Pearson, Boston.Ottman, J, 1997, Green market Opportunity for innovation, TC / Contemporary Books, Lincolnwood.Peattie, K, Green consumption Behaviour and norms, Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Vol. 35, Issue 1, pp. 195-228.Reinhardt, F.L. 1998, Environmental product differentiation Implications for corporate strategy, calcium management review, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 43-73. Tompkins, J, 2010, Reverse logistics is not the reverse of logistics, Material Handling and Logistics, November 2010. bounteous jump in container recycling in SA, AAP General News Wire, July 22, 2010.