It is not uncommon for materials and finished products to travel thousands of miles while moving from manufacturing facilities, through distribution networks, and across multiple modes of transportation before reaching the job site.
This is usually accepted as part of a normal supply chain. However, they carry measurable implications for both environmental impact and project delivery. Choosing suppliers with the correct logistical structure means shorter distances, better lead times, and lower carbon emissions.
Transportation is a necessary part of any product lifecycle, but the scale and complexity of that transportation can vary significantly depending on where a product is manufactured.
Products sourced from overseas typically involve:
Each stage contributes to increased emissions, longer lead times, and greater variability in delivery. By comparison, products manufactured closer to their point of use can move through fewer stages, making a more predictable timeline.
Even with domestic manufacturing, location influences efficiency. For materials sourcing, a central location means increased operational efficiency and reducing transportation-related emissions throughout the entire supply chain. For finished goods, a centrally located facility allows for more balanced distribution across regions, reducing the average distance a product must travel.
Ghent’s manufacturing operations have been based in Southwest Ohio for 50 years, a region that provides direct access to major interstate networks and proximity to a large share of the US population.
From this location:
These efficiencies can reduce both environmental impact and the operational complexity of delivering products to a project site.
Distance and handling are also directly related to product integrity.
Longer shipping routes with multiple transfer points increase the likelihood of damage, particularly for materials such as glass or porcelain. By reducing transition distance and the number of handling stages, we can help minimize these risks and their associated impacts on project timelines and the environment. Learn more about our shipping process here.
Sustainability is often evaluated at the point of production—materials, energy use, and manufacturing practices. These are important factors, but they do not fully capture the impact of how products move after they are made.
Manufacturing location connects production directly to distribution, which influences the resources required to deliver a product to its destination. Considering these factors provides a more complete view of environmental impact across the product lifecycle.
At Ghent, sustainability is approached as a function of long-term performance as well as responsible manufacturing. With over 50 years of manufacturing in Ohio, we view it as a responsibility to our community, our employees, and the environment we share.
We prioritize durable materials, design for longevity, manufacture made-to-order to minimize waste, and continually invest in equipment and processes that improve efficiency. By aligning our operations with our values, we reduce our footprint while delivering products built to last.
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