“Sustainability” is a word you see often in business discussions these days. It’s used when talking about reducing pollution, emissions, and overall environmental impact. It also pops up in discussions about costs and efficiency. Sometimes it refers to hiring practices and community relations.
Basically, “sustainability” appears to be a broad concept. All we know for sure is that everyone wants their business to have more of it. But what does it really mean to operate a sustainable company?
Sustainability as Intelligent Operations
Whether we’re talking about environmental impact, operational efficiency, or human relations, the essence of any sustainable practice is intelligence. In other words, to be sustainable is to be smart.
Take environmental impact, for example. Businesses that consume resources and create waste (i.e., all businesses) have it in their best interests to do so responsibly. Sustainable consumption practices ensure the business will continue to have access to the resources it needs, while sustainable waste management initiatives help keep the environment safe and productive for everyone.
An environment that benefits both companies and customers is an environment in which a business can thrive. What that means is those sustainable consumption and waste management policies aren’t just “good” for the sake of being good. It means those policies represent an intelligent investment in the future.
They represent smart business.
With that in mind, let’s look at one area where many businesses struggle to improve their overall sustainability: cold storage.
Wait, My Cold Storage Isn’t Sustainable?
If your business uses temporary on-site cold storage, the odds are most of those containers and trailers are diesel-powered. While temporary units like these might help you keep plenty of extra inventory on-hand, they also cost you in more ways than one.
Operating Expenses
Here’s what you’ll pay on average to run just one diesel-powered cold storage unit:
- Diesel fuel = $33K/year
- Fuel deliveries = $14K/year
- Engine runtime = $13K/year
That adds up to about $60,000 every year in operating costs for a single unit.
Carbon Emissions
That same diesel-powered cold storage unit will pump 97 tons of carbon into the atmosphere every year.
With those costs and that amount of waste, diesel-powered cold storage is the opposite of intelligent, sustainable business.
What is Sustainable Cold Storage?
When every single diesel-powered cold storage unit you use costs $60K per year to run and produces nearly 100 tons of carbon, that might seem like a disaster in the making. Really, though, it’s a huge opportunity, thanks to the advent of electric-powered temporary on-site cold storage.
Electric-powered cold storage containers and trailers replace expensive, dirty internal combustion engines with efficient, clean electric motors. The largest and most advanced fleet of these next-gen cold storage solutions is leased and serviced by Portabull Cold Storage. By replacing your outdated diesel units with new Portabull electrics, here’s how your company stands to benefit:
Operating Expenses
- Diesel fuel = $0, ever
- Fuel deliveries = $0, ever
- Engine runtime = $0, ever
The only operating expense for your Portabull electric unit is the electricity that powers it, a cost that averages $10K (or less) per year. That means every time you switch from a diesel unit to a Portabull electric, you’re saving $50K per year.
Carbon Emissions
Whereas one diesel unit creates nearly 100 tons of carbon every year, Portabull electrics are responsible for about 25 tons per year, a reduction of over 70%.
Temporary Electric Cold Storage = Smart, Sustainable Business
By saving $50K (or more) for every electric-powered cold storage unit that replaces an outdated diesel, your business is making intelligent use of the scarce capital resources it needs to use wisely. By cutting 70% from your carbon emissions per unit switched, your business is doing its part to ensure you and your customers can continue to thrive in a mutually beneficial environment.
The only cold storage solutions that deliver those cost savings and emissions reductions at the same time are provided by Portabull Cold Storage. Since 2008, our advanced containers and trailers have been helping businesses operate more intelligently — and sustainably — to help them thrive. If your current cold storage is holding back your sustainability efforts, talk to us today.
Discover how Portabull can boost your company’s ESG strategy here.