One way or returnable packaging to ensure effective and customer adapted goods transport systems
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Lunds universitet - Institutionen för designvetenskaper |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 3 160 740 |
| Project duration | January 2009 - August 2012 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The objective of this project is to develop, test and implement economic/environmental model/s that make it possible to evaluate the lowest possible foot print using one way alternatively returnable packaging, evaluate the influence of organisations involved in the planning and execution of the supply chain as well as concerns involving system dynamics and stability/robustness when selecting one way or returnable packaging.
Results and expected effects
The main results of the research shall be presentation of a model ( a concrete model that may be purchased on a DVD for interested parties) how to select the packaging system. Through the simulation study (1) the appropriate selection of packaging systems may be calculated from a sustainability point of view for different scenarios, (2) managerial insights will be provided into the effects that changes in different parameter values have on the system economics and environment, and (3) risks are pinpointed on how the enterprise could focus its monitoring actions on key parameters while paying less attention to other less critical variables.
Approach and implementation
In-depth case studies are conducted at two global supply chains in the automotive industry to study the use of packaging and impact on environment. The researcher will spend time at the case companies to ensure good understanding of the conditions that guide the selection of packaging system.The data based on organisations actual experiences, will be subjected to within-case and cross-case analysis, according to the guidelines set out by Huberman and Miles (1998) and Yin (2003). To further explore the effects of different packaging systems an investigation of alternative scenarios will be tested. The development of the simulation model must be greatly aided by insights provided by the case studies.The simulation study will then hopefully gain insights into the present packaging systems behaviour and performance by experimenting with the model.