Environmental sustainability may be the single most critical issue faced by our generation. In all aspects of our lives, the choices we make impact the air that we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the outdoors we enjoy.
Sustainability is also crucial to the future of the materials handling industry. How so? The linkage is more direct than you might guess. As developing economies expand, the consumption of oil rises. Oil is a non-renewable energy source that produces emissions which pollute our environment and as the demand for it rises, so does its price. Rising fuel prices increase the transportation costs of all the goods we purchase as consumers, decreasing our discretionary spending. This leads to a stressed domestic economy with fewer goods being produced and distributed. Naturally, this domino effect reduces the demand for materials handling equipment.
It is important for all companies to recognize their connection to these macro trends. This isn’t to appropriate blame, but rather to identify opportunities that could help lead all of us to a more sustainable future. It also opens up a world of business opportunities for forward thinking companies.
At Yale Materials Handling Corporation, we are improving efficiency and reducing waste in our own operations. We are developing and producing more efficient lift trucks that reduce energy consumption for our customers’ operations. We have been a leading producer of zero emission trucks for years, and in 2009 we are rolling out a new generation of our most innovative and efficient trucks ever. We are collaborating on next generation energy technology to enable a broader group of customers to more easily switch from internal combustion engine trucks to zero emission electric trucks. This same technology will ultimately enable the electrification of automobiles and reduce our dependence upon oil.
These initiatives aren’t just good for the world—they deliver more value to our customers, and to our own company’s bottom line.
Our commitment to sustainability supports our responsibility to our shareholders and although our journey toward sustainability will be a long one, we are committed to staying on the path. We are aware that we have much left to learn and many improvements to make, so we will continually challenge ourselves to achieve greater progress and attain higher goals. It is our investment in our own future and in the future of this planet we all call home.
Download our Operating in the Green Corporate Responsibility Report (PDF)
