Packaging for eco-efficient supply chains - exploring factors in the packaging development process
Author
Summary, in English
Purpose: Supply chain efficiency (economic and ecological) is affected by packaging design. The purpose of this research is to investigate how integrated approaches aiming for ecoefficient supply chains are used in packaging development processes and how a set of preselected factors influences the adaption of more or less integrated approaches at
companies.
Design/methodology/approach: The research approach is explorative and based on nine cases in the food and manufacturing industries in Sweden. In total, 26 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The analysis is based on in-between case comparisons.
Findings: The paper describes the way in which companies work with “integrative” packaging development process elements. It explores how four factors – product characteristics,packaging requirements, logistical conditions and environmental efforts – influence their approach.
Research limitations/implications: The study analyses the packaging development processes at a limited number of companies in Sweden.
Practical implications: The findings can help supply chain and logistics managers to better understand how integrated approaches can be applied in packaging development processes to increase the eco-efficiency of supply chains and the influencing factors that can serve as facilitators or barriers to these approaches in their organisations.
Original/value: Previous research has demonstrated the potential economic and ecological benefits of integrating a supply chain perspective into the packaging development process. This study complements this knowledge by presenting extensive empirical data on the practical application of integrated approaches in packaging development processes in industry.
companies.
Design/methodology/approach: The research approach is explorative and based on nine cases in the food and manufacturing industries in Sweden. In total, 26 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The analysis is based on in-between case comparisons.
Findings: The paper describes the way in which companies work with “integrative” packaging development process elements. It explores how four factors – product characteristics,packaging requirements, logistical conditions and environmental efforts – influence their approach.
Research limitations/implications: The study analyses the packaging development processes at a limited number of companies in Sweden.
Practical implications: The findings can help supply chain and logistics managers to better understand how integrated approaches can be applied in packaging development processes to increase the eco-efficiency of supply chains and the influencing factors that can serve as facilitators or barriers to these approaches in their organisations.
Original/value: Previous research has demonstrated the potential economic and ecological benefits of integrating a supply chain perspective into the packaging development process. This study complements this knowledge by presenting extensive empirical data on the practical application of integrated approaches in packaging development processes in industry.
Department/s
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Publication/Series
Proceedings of the 25th annual NOFOMA conference
Document type
Conference paper
Publisher
NOFOMA
Topic
- Other Mechanical Engineering
Keywords
- Eco-Efficiency
- Packaging
- Packaging Development Process
- Supply Chain Efficiency
- Supply Chain Integration
Conference name
25th NOFOMA Conference, 2013
Conference date
2013-06-03 - 2013-06-05
Conference place
Gothenburg, Sweden
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 978-91-980973-3-7