Sustainability in building materials doesn’t begin and end with product choice. How you store, handle, and manage materials can make or break your eco-footprint — not to mention your efficiency and bottom line. Distributors who optimize their storage systems not only reduce waste and emissions, but also offer a better experience for contractors looking to build responsibly.
This guide outlines sustainable storage best practices — and how to enable them using ERP tools and warehouse management systems.
📦 KEY AREAS TO FOCUS ON FOR GREEN STORAGE
- Warehouse Energy Efficiency
Install LED lighting with motion sensors
Use programmable thermostats or HVAC zoning
Incorporate skylights or solar to reduce dependency on grid power
- Inventory Slotting Optimization
Place fast-moving items closest to docks to reduce equipment usage
Use ERP heatmaps to visualize product velocity and rearrange accordingly
Reduce forklift mileage and fuel/emissions
- Paperless Picking and Receiving
ERP-powered digital picklists and receiving logs
Use mobile apps or tablets to eliminate BOL printouts
Send automated digital receipts and reports to customers
- Smart Packaging & Reuse
Track reusable crates, bins, and totes
Assign returnable packaging to orders
Automate cleanup return cycles using delivery and storage data
🛠️ ERP-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE STORAGE
- Reusable Asset Tracking
Assign bins or crates to specific inventory types or clients
Monitor usage, maintenance, and return status
- Document Automation
Digitize SDS, inventory manifests, safety protocols
Attach them to SKUs and orders, reducing need for printouts
- Inventory Lifecycle Management
Flag slow-moving SKUs for clearance or redeployment
Reduce overstocking and expired materials that end up as waste
- Reporting Dashboards
CO₂ savings from EV lifts or reduced forklift travel
Paper saved via digital workflows
Reuse cycles per packaging SKU
📢 BONUS BEST PRACTICE: EDUCATE YOUR TEAM
Include sustainability in warehouse onboarding
Set monthly goals for paper reduction or reuse cycles
Use gamification: “Which bay saved the most power this month?”
🏁 FINAL THOUGHTS
Sustainable storage isn’t just an operations strategy — it’s a branding opportunity. When your ERP and warehouse teams align on greener practices, you reduce waste, improve efficiency, and offer a supply experience your customers are proud to support.
📞 Need help digitizing your picklists, optimizing your warehouse layout, or launching a reuse program in your ERP? Let’s green your back end.
