Last Updated on August 12, 2025
Sustainability is a broad concept that means different things to different companies. For some, improving sustainability means keeping operations running productively while improving economic efficiency. For others, it means reducing their carbon footprint and negative impact on the environment. Both are priorities for many companies.
Whether you’re a retailer handling packages or a construction company removing loose materials, using portable material conveyors can bolster your sustainability initiatives. In this article, you’ll learn how sustainable material handling practices, such as using portable material handling conveyors, can improve operational efficiency while benefiting teams and overall sustainability. Read on to learn how portable material conveyors help companies improve their sustainability efforts.
The Importance of Conveyor Sustainability
Most industries — from agriculture to construction to warehousing — are looking for ways to implement more sustainable equipment and practices. However, organizations also need to keep up with and exceed customer demands and expectations.
One of the least sustainable and inefficient processes is when team members need to lift, carry or move materials manually. Employees are more likely to be injured, and the process is slow. This work also incurs a lot of labor time and costs. Material handling can become a major bottleneck in any operation.
Improving your project’s material handling and conveyor sustainability is crucial to keeping up with demand and removing these bottlenecks. Unfortunately, permanent conveyors are not a viable solution for every project’s material handling needs.
That’s where portable belt conveyors come in. Adding portable belt conveyors allows for a flexible solution which can help improve employee safety while enhancing sustainability. These compact conveyors can be moved around a project site. When not in use, they can be stored away. Lastly, portable belt conveyors can be linked together to meet the exact needs of your team.
- Read More: To learn more about the safe use of power conveyors visit OSHA.gov.
How Portable Material Conveyors Help Companies Improve Sustainability
Portable material conveyors can help your company achieve its sustainability goals in several ways, both economically and environmentally.
Improving Environmental Sustainability
When it comes to improving environmental sustainability, conveyor systems are often overlooked. Adding or upgrading to the latest conveyor technologies can have a significant positive impact not just on your economic sustainability but on your environmental footprint as well.
For example, older conveyor technologies required frequent lubrication of their moving parts, which created a lot of harmful run-off that needed to be managed. Today, there are conveyors that use little lubrication and some that don’t need lubrication at all.
Additionally, new portable conveyors are built with lighter, more sustainable materials, which means they need far less electricity to operate than older conveyors and may need less maintenance. By adding the latest portable conveyors to your project, you can minimize your organization’s carbon footprint while keeping operations running.
Improving Economic Sustainability
Economic sustainability is the most obvious way portable material conveyors can impact your operation. You will need to consider the total cost of operating a conveyor system, not just the initial purchase or rental price. Using the right portable conveyors can increase overall production efficiency and may decrease your labor or downtime costs.
For example, portable material conveyors can fit in tight areas, enabling your team to move a large volume of heavy materials quickly and safely where they otherwise would need to do it by hand. This means you can get more work done in less time without having to increase your headcount, like you would if you had to rely only on manual material handling.
Plus, when you use the latest portable conveyor technology and keep it well maintained, you can extend its life. In doing so, the need for maintenance and downtime is minimized.
When considering which conveyor solution is right for you, look for solutions made of sustainable materials. Just as importantly, it needs to be durable and minimize need for maintenance. For example, if your team needs a conveyor to move food products, make sure the conveyor belt is made of a material that is suitable for both being in contact with food and the chemicals needed to keep it clean.
Other Benefits of Portable Conveyors for Your Business
When it comes to improving processes and daily work at your project site, the benefits of portable conveyors can’t be understated. In addition to more sustainable material handling practices, portable conveyor technology can make a job site and tasks easier for all involved.
- Read more about how material handling can improve our operations:
Increased Flexibility and Better Use of Space
Portable belt conveyors offer a flexible way to transport a variety of materials across short distances or up inclines. Their easy setup and operation allow for maneuverability in tight spaces and quick deployment nearly anywhere on a project site. Plus, some portable conveyors can be extended over longer distances by linking multiple units together.
Conveyor Features Enable Greater Ease of Use
No one wants to waste their time trying to figure out how to set up and maintain complicated equipment. Portable belt conveyor features such as folding wheels and dual belt speeds make it easy to move the conveyor exactly where you want it and move materials at the speed you need to stay on schedule.
Time and Labor Savings
When you consider all the features and benefits of replacing manual material handling processes or outdated equipment with the latest portable belt conveyor technology, you’re likely to realize significant time and labor savings. With portable conveyors, teams can streamline material transportation processes, reduce manual labor and improve overall efficiency.
Achieve Sustainable Material Handling with Herc Rentals
You’ve just learned how portable material conveyors help companies improve sustainability, both economically and environmentally. When it’s time to move materials quickly and efficiently across your project site or warehouse, turn to the equipment experts at Herc Rentals.
As a leading provider of conveyor belt rental units, we’ll help you find sustainable material handling and material transportation solutions. We’ll be sure your solutions are tailored to your specific project requirements. Explore top-quality portable conveyors at Herc Rentals, or give us a call at 888-777-2700 to talk with a sustainable material handling expert today.
