Transport efficiency of packaging in food supply chains : - Does it matter in a life cycle perspective?

• Purpose: Packaging adds weight and volume to food products, thereby increasing the environmental impact of transport processes. This research examines the relative importance of transport efficient packaging in food supply chains that rely on road transport compared to other environmental requirements, such as packaging material minimization and food waste reduction.Design/methodology/approach: Screening life cycle assessment methodology was applied to analyse two different packaging systems in two food supply chains. Data were collected from a major Swedish food producer.Findings: The findings show that in the food supply chains analyzed, the transport efficiency of packaging has lower environmental importance than packaging material minimization and food waste reduction, but that the aspect is context specific. The study describes how transport distances and truck size influence the size of the potential environmental benefit of transport efficient packaging in the supply chains analysed.Research limitations/implications:The study identifies a need for future research to analyse the relevance of packaging transport efficiency in other kinds of food supply chains. The study was limited to two supply chains of one Swedish food producer.Practical implications: The findings can help practitioners to take more informed decisions about the transport optimization of packaging.Social implications: The findings contribute to the understanding of the environmental impact of packaging in food supply chains.Original/value: The results contribute to research about the trade-offs between different environmental requirements on food packaging.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Transportteknik och logistik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Transport Systems and Logistics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Green Logistics, Sustainable Packaging, Life Cycle Assessment, Sustainable Transport, Transport Efficiency

Publikations- och innehållstyp

kon (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)