Making the Supply Chain Greener Within the Electronics Industry
Over the past decade there has been an increase in environmental concern worldwide. This concern has grown due to regular environmental protests, social media trends such as ‘trash tag’ where people collect as much rubbish as they can, environmental activists obstructing day to day activities and video campaigns showing the damage that pollution has done to our planet.
How Has the Electronics Industry Supply Chain Become Greener So Far?
Many suppliers and distributors have improved packaging by implementing environmentally friendly practices such as making smaller, lighter packaging. For example, Mouser Electronics quoted that ‘Mouser has improved its packaging for smaller orders by implementing environmentally friendly packaging. Mouser has significantly reduced the amount of packing material, while still providing quality protection to all products while in transit. Mouser’s new, smaller, lighter packaging has a significant environmental impact by reducing fuel consumption and emissions during transport. Also, by utilizing a material that is both biodegradable and recyclable, we are lowering the amount of waste.’
As well as this, Digi Key has upped their environmental contribution. It is quoted that ‘Digi-Key has implemented numerous recycling & reuse programs for products such as paper, cardboard, plastics, aluminium cans, packing material, batteries, metals, electronic components, hazardous materials, and other materials. Some material is donated to local charity and business. To reduce the landfill impact, Dig-Key’s “Green Mug” program provides all new employees with a reusable mug reducing the amount of single use plastic, aluminium cans, and Styrofoam utilized. Throughout the facility, water bottle refill stations have been installed.’ With Digi Key being one of the largest electronic component distributors globally, this is a great step towards influencing other suppliers / distributors to follow their steps of reducing packaging.
Not only this, transporting electronics has become more environmentally friendly as well. With technology evolving every day, there are many eco-friendly vehicles available to the public. You have most likely heard of ‘Electric Cars’. All-electric vehicles have an electric motor instead of an engine. The vehicles use a large battery to power the electric motor and must be plugged in to a charging station rather than filling with petrol / diesel. Not only does this vehicle not give off emissions, but it also is cheaper to run than a usual vehicle due to not having to purchase petrol / diesel. Many mail services such as ‘Royal Mail’ have introduced electric vans to distribute their post to lower emissions and reduce the environmental impact. Overall, many distributors / suppliers have turned to electric vehicles to transport goods.
How Will the Electronics Industry Supply Chain Become Greener in the Future?
I predict that by 2025, most electronic component suppliers / distributors will deliver goods in electric vehicles, following in the footsteps of Royal Mail. I also believe that every single distributor / supplier will reduce unnecessary packaging and introduce biodegradable materials. I strongly believe this as globally; it is estimated that over 100 million marine animals are killed each year by plastic waste which has become a great concern for many people.
On the other hand, electronic component suppliers use up a lot of electricity and energy to create the components and therefore will likely invest in solar panels if they haven’t already. Solar panels are an efficient way to create a direct current of electricity through sunlight being absorbed. On average, solar panels last around 25 years and therefore are efficient and reliable.
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