Logistics is the integrated management of all the activities required to move products through the supply chain. For a typical product this supply chain extends from a raw material source through the production and distribution system to the point of consumption and the associated reverse logistics. The logistical activities comprise freight transport, storage, inventory management, materials handling and all the related information processing.
The main objective of logistics is to co-ordinate these activities in a way that meets customer requirements at minimum cost. In the past this cost has been defined in purely monetary terms. As concern for the environment rises, companies must take more account of the external costs of logistics associated mainly with climate change, air pollution, noise, vibration and accidents. This research project is examining ways of reducing these externalities and achieving a more sustainable balance between economic, environmental and social objectives.
Organizations have to face changing circumstances for several years. In addition to increasing diversity and dynamics, environmental issues become more important. Social, political and economic demands for sustainable development force organizations to reduce the effect on the environment of their supply chains and to develop sustainable transport and supply chain strategies
There are strong interactions between logistics, environment and natural resources. In addition, the approach of logistics is interdisciplinary, holistic and cross-company Realising environmental objectives can be done in synergy with other strategic and financial goals. This is the basis of the great potential of this new logistics problem and challenge
FUTURE LOGISTICS
Companies in the logistics sector have tried to find the right formula to correlate the elements of service level with the associated costs, found in the inventory the theme that guides this correlation. The logistics function, then, is the search to integrate these three themes: costs, service level and inventories. It seems to be defined that logistic secrecy is in the management of these three elements, but the time and requirements of the new client will guide the integration of a new element within this complex equation, which will probably cause it to be altered from the root The corporate logistics operation: measuring the environmental impact of logistics processes, assessing the carbon footprint produced by the products offered to customers. The big issue in organizations is related to being able to measure the environmental impact of their logistics practices.
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
The environmental impact of logistics processes is an issue that should be considered with a sense of future in the logistical agendas of governments and companies, current practice does not recognize it yet and is unfeasible in the present conditions of competition, more when not There is a defined regulatory framework on the carbon footprint produced by placing a product available at the point of sale and the consumer does not have a final position on this issue.
Even so, it is quite clear the recognition of the environmental problem and the need to find solutions on the issue, there seems to be no question as to whether this vision will be implemented, since the real question in this regard is the understanding of When it will be.
