Sustainable Solutions for SCM

Figure 6.6 CO 2 e emissions of an automotive supply chain on a product base [6] Considering not only the operations of the buildings but also the construction the number raises to more than 50%. In the USA, commercial properties are responsible for 40% of the total energy use of buildings. Studies for the energy use of buildings in supply chains determine a total 13% of all emissions in a supply chain (World Economic Forum 2009). A study from the UK quantifies the emissions from warehousing up to 3% of the total emissions in the UK (UK Warehousing Association). Thus, it is worth considering warehouses in an assessment of emissions in supply chains. Considering a cradle-to-grave concept for a warehouse, 15% of the environmental impact takes place during the construction phase, 80% during operation and 5% for the disposal considering a lifetime of 25-40 years [6]. During operation most of the energy is used for heating (see Figure 6.7).

Figure 6.7. Typical energy consumption of a warehouse [10]

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