Green Logistics & Sustainability Flashcards

What does 'near-shoring' mean in the context of sustainable supply chain management?

Answer: Relocating suppliers or manufacturing to nearby regions to reduce transportation distances and emissions

Near-shoring moves supply sources closer to demand, shortening supply chains and reducing transportation-related emissions compared to distant offshore sourcing.

Which refrigerant characteristic is most important from a climate perspective in cold chain logistics?

Answer: Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the refrigerant used

Global Warming Potential (GWP) quantifies how much a refrigerant contributes to climate change if released, making it the critical environmental metric in refrigerant selection.

A logistics provider is evaluating routes to lower emissions. Which routing optimization factor has the GREATEST direct impact on fuel consumption?

Answer: Reducing empty miles (deadhead) through better load matching

Reducing empty miles directly cuts fuel burned on trips with no payload, which is one of the largest sources of waste in trucking operations.

What is the purpose of an Environmental Management System (EMS) such as ISO 14001 in logistics?

Answer: To provide a structured framework for organizations to manage, monitor, and continually improve their environmental performance

ISO 14001 provides a systematic approach to setting environmental objectives, measuring performance, and driving continuous improvement in environmental management.

Which sustainable packaging principle involves using the minimum amount of material needed to protect a product adequately?

Answer: Right-sizing or source reduction

Right-sizing or source reduction minimizes material use by matching packaging dimensions and weight to the product, reducing waste and shipping weight.

A company tracks its logistics network's 'carbon footprint per order fulfilled.' What does improving this metric indicate?

Answer: The company is generating less emission per unit of output, reflecting greater emissions efficiency

A declining carbon footprint per order fulfilled means the organization is delivering more value while generating proportionally fewer emissions, a core goal of green logistics.

Under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, who bears the primary obligation for managing post-consumer packaging waste?

Answer: Producers and brand owners who place products on the market

EPR shifts end-of-life waste management responsibility to producers and brand owners, incentivizing them to design more recyclable or reusable packaging.