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Sustainable operations in reusable food packaging networks

Baruffaldi, Giulia ; Accorsi, Riccardo ; Volpe, Luca ; Manzini, Riccardo and Nilsson, Fredrik LU (2019) p.293-293
Abstract
This chapter explores the processes of a typical logistics network for the management of reusable packaging for food products. While the impacts associated with packaging waste in the food sector are well known, the adoption of reusable crates or handling systems for food items entails many logistics processes such as storage, transportation, and cleaning, whose impact needs to be quantified and assessed with cost-benefit analysis. This chapter thus presents a methodology and a decision-support tool used to quantify the logistic and environmental impacts associated with packaging distribution in the closed-loop network between growers, retailers, and the pooler.

This methodology allows quantifying of the performance of the as-is... (More)
This chapter explores the processes of a typical logistics network for the management of reusable packaging for food products. While the impacts associated with packaging waste in the food sector are well known, the adoption of reusable crates or handling systems for food items entails many logistics processes such as storage, transportation, and cleaning, whose impact needs to be quantified and assessed with cost-benefit analysis. This chapter thus presents a methodology and a decision-support tool used to quantify the logistic and environmental impacts associated with packaging distribution in the closed-loop network between growers, retailers, and the pooler.

This methodology allows quantifying of the performance of the as-is scenario and predicting the savings of choosing intermodal transport solutions (i.e., railways, seaways) for the delivery and collection of reusable plastic crates (RPCs) for fruits and vegetables. The methodology is applied to a multiscenario what-if analysis of a case study provided by an Italian pooler operating in the retail food supply chain. The results are generated through a decision-support tool, which embeds a geographic information system (GIS) and realizes data-driven assessment of storage and distribution operations experienced by RPCs.

We quantified some categories of impacts among the set of greenhouse gases emissions (GHGs) resulting from transportation and associated costs. The results showcase a total transportation cost reduction of 11.7% in the to-be scenario, while the number of kilograms of CO2eq decreases by 9.2%.

The contribution of this chapter lies in the investigation of the environmental sustainability of a packaging closed-loop network (CLN) for food products. Moreover, we decided to limit the boundaries of the analysis to the transport process, which is often neglected and underrated in typical life cycle assessment (LCA). Findings from this chapter represent practical suggestions and strategic guidelines for managers and practitioners of reusable package systems toward more sustainable operations. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
This chapter explores the processes of a typical logistics network for the management of reusable packaging for food products. While the
impacts associated with packaging waste in the food sector are well known, the adoption of reusable crates or handling systems for food
items entails many logistics processes such as storage, transportation, and cleaning, whose impact needs to be quantified and assessed
with cost-benefit analysis. This chapter thus presents a methodology and a decision-support tool used to quantify the logistic and environmental
impacts associated with packaging distribution in the closed-loop network between growers, retailers, and the pooler.
This methodology allows quantifying of the performance of... (More)
This chapter explores the processes of a typical logistics network for the management of reusable packaging for food products. While the
impacts associated with packaging waste in the food sector are well known, the adoption of reusable crates or handling systems for food
items entails many logistics processes such as storage, transportation, and cleaning, whose impact needs to be quantified and assessed
with cost-benefit analysis. This chapter thus presents a methodology and a decision-support tool used to quantify the logistic and environmental
impacts associated with packaging distribution in the closed-loop network between growers, retailers, and the pooler.
This methodology allows quantifying of the performance of the as-is scenario and predicting the savings of choosing intermodal
transport solutions (i.e., railways, seaways) for the delivery and collection of reusable plastic crates (RPCs) for fruits and vegetables.
The methodology is applied to a multiscenario what-if analysis of a case study provided by an Italian pooler operating in the retail food
supply chain. The results are generated through a decision-support tool, which embeds a geographic information system (GIS) and
realizes data-driven assessment of storage and distribution operations experienced by RPCs.
We quantified some categories of impacts among the set of greenhouse gases emissions (GHGs) resulting from transportation and
associated costs. The results showcase a total transportation cost reduction of 11.7% in the to-be scenario, while the number of kilograms
of CO2eq decreases by 9.2%.
The contribution of this chapter lies in the investigation of the environmental sustainability of a packaging closed-loop network (CLN)
for food products. Moreover, we decided to limit the boundaries of the analysis to the transport process, which is often neglected and
underrated in typical life cycle assessment (LCA). Findings from this chapter represent practical suggestions and strategic guidelines for
managers and practitioners of reusable package systems toward more sustainable operations. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Sustainable Food Supply Chains : Planning, Design, and Control through Interdisciplinary Methodologies - Planning, Design, and Control through Interdisciplinary Methodologies
edition
1
pages
304 pages
publisher
Academic Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85081932212
ISBN
978-0-12-813411-5
DOI
10.1016/B978-0-12-813411-5.00020-X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d2b0d54d-8584-4c07-84d4-49b064ff4599
date added to LUP
2019-10-04 00:33:29
date last changed
2022-04-18 18:09:00
@inbook{d2b0d54d-8584-4c07-84d4-49b064ff4599,
  abstract     = {{This chapter explores the processes of a typical logistics network for the management of reusable packaging for food products. While the impacts associated with packaging waste in the food sector are well known, the adoption of reusable crates or handling systems for food items entails many logistics processes such as storage, transportation, and cleaning, whose impact needs to be quantified and assessed with cost-benefit analysis. This chapter thus presents a methodology and a decision-support tool used to quantify the logistic and environmental impacts associated with packaging distribution in the closed-loop network between growers, retailers, and the pooler.<br/><br/>This methodology allows quantifying of the performance of the as-is scenario and predicting the savings of choosing intermodal transport solutions (i.e., railways, seaways) for the delivery and collection of reusable plastic crates (RPCs) for fruits and vegetables. The methodology is applied to a multiscenario what-if analysis of a case study provided by an Italian pooler operating in the retail food supply chain. The results are generated through a decision-support tool, which embeds a geographic information system (GIS) and realizes data-driven assessment of storage and distribution operations experienced by RPCs.<br/><br/>We quantified some categories of impacts among the set of greenhouse gases emissions (GHGs) resulting from transportation and associated costs. The results showcase a total transportation cost reduction of 11.7% in the to-be scenario, while the number of kilograms of CO2eq decreases by 9.2%.<br/><br/>The contribution of this chapter lies in the investigation of the environmental sustainability of a packaging closed-loop network (CLN) for food products. Moreover, we decided to limit the boundaries of the analysis to the transport process, which is often neglected and underrated in typical life cycle assessment (LCA). Findings from this chapter represent practical suggestions and strategic guidelines for managers and practitioners of reusable package systems toward more sustainable operations.}},
  author       = {{Baruffaldi, Giulia and Accorsi, Riccardo and Volpe, Luca and Manzini, Riccardo and Nilsson, Fredrik}},
  booktitle    = {{Sustainable Food Supply Chains : Planning, Design, and Control through Interdisciplinary Methodologies}},
  isbn         = {{978-0-12-813411-5}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  pages        = {{293--293}},
  publisher    = {{Academic Press}},
  title        = {{Sustainable operations in reusable food packaging networks}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813411-5.00020-X}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/B978-0-12-813411-5.00020-X}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}