The Intersection of Environmental Regulations and WMS, Especially in Manufacturing and Logistics

The convergence of environmental regulations and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) in logistics and manufacturing industries has been of specific interest over the last decade. With the increasing demand for environmental sustainability, companies in these sectors are adopting innovative practices and technologies to meet stringent environmental demands. While there has been development, however, a wide gap in research is seen in the overall contribution of WMS in the convergence of sustainable practices in warehouse operations. This paper seeks to fill the gap by studying how WMS can be merged with sustainable practices seamlessly to guarantee effective compliance with environmental regulations. Research between 2015 and 2024 provides different insights into how WMS contributes to sustainability initiatives such as the facilitation of energy-efficient warehouse operations, waste minimization programs, carbon footprint management, and green technology implementation. While these research studies highlight the vast potential of WMS in optimizing the use of resources and reducing environmental footprints, they also indicate the need for further research into the end-to-end convergence of WMS with other sustainable supply chain practices and green logistics technologies. One of the key challenges mentioned in the literature is the limited research on the overall potential of WMS in facilitating circular economy practices, emission reduction, and compliance with dynamic global environmental regulations. Further, the application of emerging technologies such as IoT and AI in WMS to ensure sustainability goals is a research scope that is not yet fully exploited. This paper presents potential areas of research, with a specific focus on the convergence of AI-based WMS platforms to foster environmental sustainability in warehouse management and logistics, and ultimately lead businesses to more efficient and sustainable operations