Sustainable Bulk-Packaging System for Sugar Shipping: Case Study of the Enterprise Leader in Europe (original) (raw)
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An extended life cycle analysis of packaging systems for fruit and vegetable transport in Europe
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2013
Purpose The year-round supply of fresh fruit and vegetables in Europe requires a complex logistics system. In this study, the most common European fruit and vegetable transport packaging systems, namely single-use wooden and cardboard boxes and re-useable plastic crates, are analyzed and compared considering environmental, economic, and social impacts. Methods The environmental, economic, and social potentials of the three transport packaging systems are examined and compared from a life cycle perspective using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Life Cycle Working Environment (LCWE) methodologies. Relevant parameters influencing the results are analyzed in different scenarios, and their impacts are quantified. The underlying environmental analysis is an ISO 14040 and 14044 comparative Life Cycle Assessment that was critically reviewed by an independent expert panel. Results and discussion The results show that wooden boxes and plastic crates perform very similarly in the Global Warming Potential, Acidification Potential, and Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential categories; while plastic crates have a lower impact in the Eutrophication Potential and Abiotic Resource Depletion Potential categories. Cardboard boxes show the highest impacts in all assessed categories. The analysis of the life cycle costs show that the re-usable system is the most cost effective over its entire life cycle. For the production of a single crate, the plastic crates require the most human labor. The share of female employment for the cardboard boxes is the lowest. All three systems require a relatively large share of low-qualified employees. The plastic crate system shows a much lower lethal accident rate. The higher rate for the wooden and cardboard boxes arises mainly from wood logging. In addition, the sustainability consequences due to the influence of packaging in preventing food losses are discussed, and future research combining aspects both from food LCAs and transport packing/packaging LCAs is recommended. Conclusions For all three systems, optimization potentials regarding their environmental life cycle performance were identified. Wooden boxes (single use) and plastic crates (reusable) show preferable environmental performance. The calibration of the system parameters, such as end-of-life treatment, showed environmental optimization potentials in all transport packaging systems. The assessment of the economic and the social dimensions in parallel is important in order to avoid trade-offs between the three sustainability dimensions. Merging economic and social aspects into a Life Cycle Assessment is becoming more and more
Economic and Environmental Packaging Sustainability: A Case Study
FEMA 1
The aim of this paper is to analyze the suitability of the packaging strategy of an important Spanish agro-food company, regarding to economic and environmental sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: Three different types of packaging are analyzed to obtain a diagnostic of the initial situation. In this process, cost and carbon footprint are calculated in order to measure the economic and environmental impacts, respectively. Then, a new packaging allocation logic is proposed with the aim of improving both aspects. Findings: The results show that the carbon footprint is strongly and positively affected by the cost reduction, showing the viability of a win-win relationship between both aspects. Research limitations/implications: The strength of this win-win relationship may be conditioned by the input values considered in this case study. Conversion factors used to calculate carbon footprint vary a lot among researchers, showing the need of standardization in this topic. Practical implications: Since the existence of a positive relationship between economic and environmental sustainability has been demonstrated, organizations should find this kind of situations in themselves to satisfy their own stakeholders. Originality/value: This article shows the potential of unite waste elimination with eco-friendly activities with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of companies. This paper also contributes to the knowledge of economic and environmental sustainability and reinforces theoretical aspects, paving the way for further research on these topics.
Sustainable Transport Packaging: Evaluation and Feasibility for Different Use Cases
LOGI – Scientific Journal on Transport and Logistics
The continuous increase in e-commerce shipping is causing a critical amount of transport packaging waste. The aim of this paper is a comprehensive presentation of different types of innovations for sustainable transport packaging. Within the paper, classification and evaluation of 37 sustainable packaging solutions are presented, including customized on-demand packaging, alternative materials and closed-loop systems. A multi-criteria evaluation scheme covering a wide range of economic, ecological, operational and social indicators was used to assess the feasibility of the packaging options in different cases. Depending on the degree of innovation and implementation risk, packaging options are proposed as a “Quick Win”, “Go Green” or “Thought Leadership” solution. In the conclusion chapter of this paper, recommendations are made for three different use cases, namely grocery, fashion and textiles and electronic goods.
Packaging sustainability assessment
2015
Packaging is an essential part of the majority of products in the actual market. Therefore, packaging design must draw attention to improve its sustainable character in order to satisfy consumers, enhance its environmental performance and keep economic costs to a minimum. Measuring packaging’s sustainability would provide consumers information so as to raise awareness and, moreover, a tool that would help companies to find product weaknesses to be improved. For that purpose, this project has defined a Sustainability Index that measures with a 100-point scale the sustainable character of seven food and beverage packaging. The index contains the three pillars of sustainability which are environment, economy and society. These sustainable indicators are represented by the following variables: carbon footprint, product price, value for money, product preservation and openability. The seven containers will be compared in sustainable terms and finally one of them will be selected to be re...
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2018
Purpose This article aims to conduct a systematic literature review on the life cycle assessment of packaging in the world and in Brazil. Packaging plays an important role in the preservation and protection of products, and it is an issue of concern all over the world. Many environmental concerns lie on packaging, and life cycle assessment (LCA) is said to be the most comprehensive and complete tool for assessing environmental profiles. Methods The Methodi Ordinatio was used to assist identifying high impact research. The EndNote software was used for reference management and the VOSviewer for clustering terms and authors. The main research themes, institutions, authors, software tools used for impact assessment, and journals were identified in order to draw on the main aspects of the referred body of literature and present an insight on its trends. Results and discussion The line of study has not shown many solid patterns concerning either global or Brazilian research on LCA of packaging, so far. Nevertheless, most research has been dedicated to the food and beverage industries and European countries are leading this theme's development. Research history shows that recycling has comprised one of the first concerns, whereas the search for alternative materials and end-of-life routes play an important role in the present and future of LCA of packaging. Brazil is the most prominent developing country in this field, featuring among the main contributors to the theme globally. Conclusions There is evidence that the referred body of literature has been increasingly receiving contributions both globally and in Brazil. However, it is not sufficient to state that there are solidly established either drifts or trends, as many research features change over time. The joint interest of public and private sectors can boost this study's theme's development and unveil novel alternatives for reducing environmental impacts of packaging systems.
Potential Routes to the Sustainability of the Food Packaging Industry
Sustainability, 2022
Plastic packaging of food products has a significant impact on the sustainability of the food industry and trade. The article presents selected problems surrounding the production of plastic packaging for food storage and distribution that might cause disruptions in the implementation of sustainable production. An important question regards the extent to which the industry that produces this packaging complies with the sustainability requirements. The present work consists in an investigation of the problems observed in a plastic packaging manufacturing company located in Poland, which is part of a global corporation. Plastic waste management was analyzed and compared with the requirements of a closed loop economy. The quantities of raw material processed and the quantities of waste in the defined period were analyzed. During the analyzed period, 0.05% of the monthly production was non-recyclable waste. The quality of raw material seems to be responsible for the majority of wastes. ...
Sustainable packaging as a tool for global sustainable development
2020
In various areas of human activity more attention is paid to environmental and ecological problems and also social issues. International enterprises take into account these criteria in management and strive to reduce the degradative impact and negative effects of their activities. These activities include the global concepts of sustainable development, circular economy and social responsibility. These concepts are also increasingly taken into account by companies from the packaging industry. For this reason, more often we hear about the so-called “sustainable packaging”, which is a consequence of the above actions and brings new opportunities in the environmental, economic, ethical and social aspects. The aim of the article was to characterize sustainable packaging. Based on the literature, sustainable packaging was defined, at the same time indicating that although this definition shows how to improve the packaging present on the global market, it should also be constantly improved...
Sustainability, 2017
Packaging is one element that can support and promote improvements and innovations in sustainable management of supply chains. This multifunctional vision has brought about the approach "sustainable packaging logistics" (SPL), which refers to the integration of packaging design, logistics management and new product development. The main aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to characterise the main aspects associated with SPL as a preliminary step towards constructing a conceptual model that can be validated in a quantitative way. Secondly, to carry out an exploratory study in the Spanish toy manufacturing sector in order to identify whether SPL deployment promotes changes and innovations in packaging that can lead to improved sustainability. The literature review was conducted via content analysis, and the methodology used to carry out empirical analysis was an electronic questionnaire dealing with aspects of SPL. The number of toy manufacturers participating in the study was 70. The results analysis indicates that further development of the main aspects of SPL actively contributes to better sustainable performance in almost all items considered in the study. The SPL approach is considered particularly innovative, because there is a scarcity of literature that deals jointly with packaging, logistics and sustainability from an empirical standpoint, rather than just the analysis of case studies.
Significance of Sustainable Packaging: A Case-Study from a Supply Chain Perspective
Applied System Innovation
The present case study-based research provides insights of the current packaging practices with a supply chain perspective and proposed sustainable packaging options that would cut down the environmental impact from supply chain operations at Midas Safety. The case study is based on qualitative research that used semi-structured open-ended interviews and observations to understand the current processes of the packaging and supply chain department of Midas Safety and how they are planning to adapt sustainability to their processes. Considering the current packaging practices, the study aimed to develop improved sustainable packaging practices with a supply chain aspect in order to cut down the negative environmental aspect such as standardization in packaging for all customers, elimination of wood pallets, developing local suppliers, change in packaging design, making the packaging more compact and lightweight, reducing carbon footprint and fuel consumption by encouraging trade throu...
Toward sustainable goods flows a framework from a packaging perspective
2011
Purpose of this paper The purpose of this paper is to explore the role and potential of packaging in order to obtain more sustainable goods flows. Design/methodology/approach An explorative research approach based on case survey methodology in which description, exploration and analysis of 34 reported cases are made. The empirical focus is goods flows in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chains. Findings The insights presented highlights and provides guidance on the pros and cons packaging provides for sustainable goods flows in the FMCG industry. Research limitations/implications (if applicable) Based on knowledge and insights about the flows of goods and tomorrows requirements on sustainable societies, this paper reports on insights for making the goods flows in the FMCG industry sustainable based on a packaging perspective. The research has focused on FMCG goods flows, starting with the inbound flow of packaging at the product filler and ending at the retail outlet. Practical implications (if applicable) The insights can guide organisations to consider and reflect on how and when packaging enables or hinder sustainability aspects of goods flows. Extra effort should be on designing packaging system solutions that mitigate the negative effects of non-consumed products. What is original/value of paper While several studies have reported on the sustainability impact of logistics, transportation or supply chain structures, the perspective of packaging is rarely treated, neither in theory nor in practise. With a packaging perspective, the assessment of goods flows in supply chains is integrative, since packaging is naturally built on the intersection of logistics, marketing, sales, ergonomics and environmental considerations.