SpanTrack Lane Carton Flow Rollers
Efficient, durable, and dependable, SpanTrack Lane carton flow rollers drop into existing structures to create the ultimate carton flow rack system for manufacturing facilities and order picking operations.
Sustainability is no longer a secondary issue for warehouse fulfillment managers. According to a recent McKinsey report, 85% of consumers have shifted toward more sustainable purchase behavior in the past five years. Simultaneously, retailers have faced growing pressures to cut waste in an inflationary environment.
Taking a sustainability-focused approach enables operators to address both concerns in one fell swoop. By integrating greener order fulfillment solutions, brands can stay on the radar of an increasingly eco-conscious consumer base while directly impacting their bottom line.
The good news is that optimizing for sustainability need not be overly complicated. A simple yet critical first step? Rethinking warehouse storage to create more eco-friendly fulfillment practices. Let’s take a closer look at these sustainable warehouse solutions.
The Importance of Sustainability in Order Fulfillment
In recent years, consumers have been increasing the pressure on brands to move toward greener business practices, and for deeply personal reasons. According to a 2024 PwC report, 85% of consumers have firsthand experience with the disruptive effects of climate change. As a result, they’re assessing everything from companies’ production methods to their eco-friendly practices.
Online sellers aren’t only facing pressures from the bottom up. New and expanding regulations are also pressing in from the top, demanding improvements in packaging materials, emissions from operations, and more.
In this environment, fulfillment centers can’t afford to delay sustainability initiatives — they’re among the most important warehouse and supply chain trends of 2025. Those that don’t take a proactive stance toward integrating greener practices will quickly fall behind, missing a chance to stay relevant with eco-conscious consumers.
Key Areas to Reduce Waste in Warehousing
Many of the prime opportunities for cutting back waste in order fulfillment are straightforward and inexpensive. Before investing in major operational overhauls, managers should start with four simple focus areas.
1. Optimizing Space Utilization
Poor space management drives waste and inefficiency. When inventory is spread out or disorganized, workers travel farther and take longer to pick items, often relying more on energy-intensive equipment like forklifts and carts.
Inefficient layouts also push operators to expand storage prematurely, increasing lease costs and energy consumption. These inefficiencies add up, leading to excessive labor hours and unnecessary lighting and climate control demands.
By optimizing inventory organization, warehouses can store more products within reach, reduce reliance on powered machinery, and maximize space, ultimately cutting energy use across the board.
2. Reducing Energy Consumption
Besides simply improving the use of space, warehouse managers should be strategic about the types of storage they use to further minimize energy consumption. Gravity flow shelving and conveyors, for instance, can help move products toward workers without powered conveyors or automation.
While automation has its place in fulfillment, strategic use of manual systems can achieve similar efficiency without the added energy demand. Combining passive warehouse storage solutions with smart automation promotes sustainability without sacrificing productivity.
3. Enhancing Picking Efficiency
In conjunction with installing strategic warehouse storage solutions, managers at fulfillment centers should give special attention to their picking processes. Gravity flow shelving moves items to the pick face, minimizing worker travel and effort while supporting first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory management to prevent product waste.
High-density storage solutions further streamline picking by keeping more items within reach, reducing the need for excessive movement and powered equipment. These and other dynamic storage solutions help streamline the entire picking process, reducing travel time, labor, and energy use.
4. Investing in Durable Equipment
Enhancing warehouse sustainability is a long game, and managers should think long term about the equipment they choose. Cheap, short-lived storage systems, carts, and conveyors wear out quickly, leading to unnecessary disposal and added costs.
Instead, they should opt for high-quality, durable equipment that limits the need for replacements. Modular solutions like adjustable shelving, reconfigurable workstations, and adaptable storage racks are especially useful because they can evolve with warehouse needs and reduce material waste over time.
Learn how to save space in your facility. Download The Guide To Optimizing Warehouse Space Utilization!
Sustainable Warehouse Solutions from UNEX
Choosing the right storage solutions is a vital step toward optimizing your warehouse for sustainability. Here’s how four different UNEX products can bolster your efforts at reducing waste and making fulfillment more efficient:
SpanTrack: Carton flow is an energy-free solution that improves order picking efficiency and increases storage density. Carton flow uses gravity to move products toward the pick face, keeping everything visible and in reach for fast order picking. Plus, tracks drop directly into existing pallet racks, allowing you to repurpose existing shelf equipment for a more efficient flow.
SpeedCell: These high-density storage cells compress 200 feet of shelving into 40 feet of organized, accessible storage space. Minimize your storage footprint and worker travel time, reducing energy demand throughout your operation. SpeedCell is especially well suited for retailers storing items like apparel, footwear, electronics, and more. High-density storage systems keep small items accessible and allow for quick inventory changes to meet shifting seasonal demand.
FlowCell: These modular workstations are designed for easy reconfiguration so you can adapt them to a wide range of warehouse settings and workflows. Customize workstations for flow-through, picking, packing, and kitting, and easily adapt to seasonal changes. FlowCell also supports lean manufacturing principles, which are designed to reduce waste and keep inventory flowing seamlessly for a more energy-efficient operation.
Gravity Conveyor: Gravity conveyors support sustainable material handling, moving inventory through the warehouse without any electrical demand. Customize conveyor lengths and add 45- or 90-degree turns to fit the flow of your facility. Durable and low-maintenance, gravity conveyors streamline product flow both in the warehouse and when loading and unloading.
UNEX warehouse storage solutions don’t just help make your warehouse operation more sustainable — the products themselves are built with sustainability in mind. Most of the materials used to build these order fulfillment solutions are made with recyclable materials, including 70% recycled aluminum in our end stops, guide rails, conveyor rollers, and more. UNEX products are also built to last, reducing the need for frequent parts replacements and minimizing long-term environmental impact.
How Sustainable Practices Drive ROI
Sustainability is no longer a niche concern. It’s now a key driver of profit and long-term ROI. According to PwC’s report, many consumers are willing to pay almost 10% more for goods that are sustainably sourced and/or produced. Simply put, taking the initiative to optimize your operation for sustainability enhances your brand reputation, strengthens customer loyalty, and boosts your revenue potential.
This is, of course, on top of all the cost savings that come with reduced energy consumption and less waste. Well-organized, efficient warehouses face lower disposal costs, fewer replacement purchases, and less inventory gone bad or obsolete. These are gains for both the environment and the bottom line.
Sustainability Starts with Smarter Order Fulfillment
The growth of eCommerce and multi-channel fulfillment has unlocked new revenue streams for warehouses around the country, but it also raises the alarm for an increasingly eco-conscious consumer base. Transportation and logistics already contribute to 29% of greenhouse gases in the U.S. That means warehouse operators must consider more ways to make even the smallest details of order fulfillment more sustainable.
Smart storage should be at the heart of those sustainability decisions. By integrating gravity conveyors, carton-flow shelving, and other sustainable warehouse solutions, warehouses can streamline order fulfillment and build bridges with a consumer base that’s growing greener by the year.
Looking to make sustainability a priority in your warehouse? With UNEX, you can keep your storage solutions eco-conscious and streamline your order fulfillment processes. Contact our team of experts today to learn how UNEX solutions can make a difference in your facility.
