Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Printed Antennas for Sustainable Wireless Systems

Siirretty Doriast

A global perspective on pallet life-cycle management practices and a research agenda

The purpose of this paper is to understand the complexity of pallet life cycle management practices in the context of resource scarcity, rising costs and different regulatory environments. The paper integrates a detailed examination of current pallet life cycle management practices around the globe with the lenses of stakeholder theory, ecological modernization theory and the dynamic capabilities perspective to develop a research agenda. It provides a theoretical basis for research in a complex area of practice that has received limited attention in the logistics and supply chain literature

The Impact of Digital Technologies and Sustainable Practices on Circular Supply Chain Management

Background: This study investigates how firms can enhance the functionality of their circular supply chains (CSCs) by adopting a portfolio of sustainable practices as well as digital technologies to increase performance. It analyzes the benefits that firms can obtain when investing in specific technologies to boost the impact of technologies and sustainable practices on CSCs, and further increase performance. Methods: We test several hypotheses by using structural equation modeling as well as multi-group analysis to verify whether CSCs can be achieved through sustainable practices and technologies and improve the firms' performance. Results: The empirical results partially support the research hypotheses. While the main research hypotheses are fully supported, the analysis of single digital technologies reveals that only a few solutions can contribute to both the management and the improvement of the CSC. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the identification of green suppliers and ad hoc environmental regulations, combined with attention to the origin and provenance of raw materials, can promote a CSC. Moreover, transportation management systems (TMS) and the internet of things (IoT) are efficient technologies for managing transportation and product flow in the CSC. Furthermore, machine learning (ML) is effective in making positive green decisions, and 3D printing can extend product life

Informing Sustainable Standards in 'The Circular Economy' utilising technological and data solutions

In our world of make, use and throw away we are now doing more damage to the planet than good, and this mindset has become unsustainable. One of the solutions to this problem is the ‘Circular Economy’ (CE). The CE replaces the concept of end-of-life production with restoration of natural systems, innovative design to design out waste and keeping products and materials in circulation for as long as possible. This research will use data science and statistical information to provide a solid foundation (framework) for standards developers to frame the development of standards for the CE. The research will extend the current CE model by interjecting innovative ideas into areas of the CE process: data analysis, restriction of harmful chemicals removing them from the supply chain, research into Local Value Creation (LVC) and research into Sustainable Development in the CE. The research will investigate how Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagging of products and materials provide a realistic way to trace products and materials in a CE management system. It will also expand the knowledge on digitization in standards development by analyzing key data streams connected to the CE in order to inform the standards development community of the need to develop a standard on the CE. This research will use a mixed methodology by combining quantitative methods (data analysis) and qualitative data (case studies). This will be detailed in Chapter 3 – Methodology. The data collected from the literature review will drive four main Sections and four research questions in Chapter 4. This research will analyse through Case Studies and research papers the uptake of circular thinking in China and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and use the outcomes positive or negative to show practical applications for this research.The objective conclusion of this research is to provide a framework for a European or International standard in order to fill the gap as no such Standard currently exists European or Internationally that addresses the CE. A Framework with inclusions from the research will form a usable output from the research. This research will inform or be of interest to the Standards development community, data scientists, Circular Economy practitioners and environmental regulators. The aim of this research is to provide a framework standard using underlying data and statistical information needed to develop a new Standard on the Circular Economy. Once a Standard is developed and published it can be used by any organisation or group of organisations, country or individual wishing to manage internally and collectively their activities in order to transition to the CE and the Sustainable Development goal of responsible consumption and production. This research has produced a framework from which sustainable standards can be developed. The data acquired from using RFID tags imbedded in products allows manufacturers to control and analyse the materials in their products specific to hazardous chemicals. This data can also be used to track the product through the supply chain and onto its product life cycle. The data gathered in the product example in this thesis tracks the potential use of hazardous chemicals in the product, this is important information for endof-life decisions to be made on the product. The data can then be used to develop requirements and testing regimes for circular economy standards. Having identified some of the main areas of future activity in the CE, this research i.e., the circular economy, data science and standards development will continue to evoke research in the CE for the foreseeable future

La cadena de suministro sostenible: conceptos, modelos de optimizaci´on y de simulaci´on y tendencias

Context: The environmental and social dimensions of performance are of great importance, given that they must be incorporated into strategic, tactical, and operational objectives in companies and supply chains to minimize negative impacts on the environment and society. Method: After reviewing the Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases for the topics of sustainability and supply chain management, a state of the art of green and sustainable supply chain management is presented, aiming to guide readers towards a synthesis of related concepts and future lines of research. Results: The reader is introduced to concepts and trends around the field of green and sustainable supply chain management to raise interest in new research and practices to guide the implementation of sustainability in organizations and their supply chains. Conclusions: Sustainable supply chain management still faces several academic and practical challenges in terms of implementation, performance measurement, and how models can capture a dynamic and uncertain social and environmental context. There are latent research issues such as management of the circular supply chain, applications in emerging economies, or the application of 4.0 technologies.Contexto: Las dimensiones ambiental y social del desempeño son de gran importancia, puesto que deben ser incorporadas a los objetivos estratégicos, tácticos y operativos de las empresas y cadenas de suministro para minimizar los impactos negativos sobre el medio ambiente y la sociedad. Método: Tras haber consultado los temas de sostenibilidad y gestión de la cadena de suministro en las bases de datos Scopus, Web of Science y ScienceDirect, se presenta el estado del arte en gestión de la cadena de suministro verde y sostenible, esperando guiar a los lectores hacia una síntesis de conceptos relacionados y futuras líneas de investigación. Resultados: Se introduce al lector a conceptos y tendencias en el campo de gestión de la cadena de suministro verde y sostenible para despertar el interés en nuevas investigaciones y prácticas para guiar la implementación de la sostenibilidad en organizaciones y sus cadenas de suministro. Conclusiones: La gestión sostenible de la cadena de suministro aún enfrenta varios retos académicos y prácticos, desafíos en términos de implementación, medición del desempeño y la manera en que los modelos pueden capturar un contexto social y ambiental dinámico e incierto. Hay cuestiones de investigación latentes como la gestión de la cadena de suministro circular, las aplicaciones en economías emergentes o la aplicación de tecnologías 4.0

A Tool for Evaluating Environmental Sustainability of Plastic Waste Reduction Innovations

Plastics and their byproducts are littering our cities, oceans, and waterways, and contributing to health problems in humans and animals. Since plastics have become significant in our economic and social activities, it is urgent and essential to make progress in plastic waste reduction. Many large investors are looking into technologies and solutions that reduce plastic waste, but a sole plastic waste reduction innovation or project does not guarantee or equate to sustainability performance. In this Master’s project, the team at the School of Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) investigated the plastics industry, with the objective of developing a framework and sustainability assessment tool for evaluating plastic reduction innovations to support investment decisions. The team reviewed sustainability assessment literature and studied plastic waste reduction strategies to determine key criteria and a process for evaluating sustainability performance of plastic waste reduction innovations. Through this work, the Plastic Waste Reduction Innovation Sustainability Evaluation Tool (PRISET) was created, setting educational guidelines around the criteria for both investors and other potential users. General guidance is presented for evaluating environmental sustainability of basic business models that focuses on the company’s mission & vision, circular economy attributes, and potential scale of the waste reduction innovation. More indepth tools for evaluating specific technology innovations include third party certifications and life cycle assessments that require expertise to conduct. Waste reduction innovations were classified into four categories: reuse & refill, alternative materials, innovative design and recycling; and specific guidance criteria in the form of questions were presented to highlight key drivers of sustainability performance in each category. Finally, we also conducted a case study to test the feasibility of the tool. Those innovations that address a wider set of criteria are expected to be more preferrable, while feedback from the assessment will also be useful for innovation companies themselves to focus efforts on those criteria they have not addressed.Master of ScienceSchool for Environment and SustainabilityUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167287/1/Eval Env Sus of Plastic Waste Red.pd

Sustainable supply chain management in the digitalisation era: The impact of Automated Guided Vehicles

Internationalization of markets and climate change introduce multifaceted challenges for modern supply chain (SC) management in the today's digitalisation era. On the other hand, Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems have reached an age of maturity that allows for their utilization towards tackling dynamic market conditions and aligning SC management focus with sustainability considerations. However, extant research only myopically tackles the sustainability potential of AGVs, focusing more on addressing network optimization problems and less on developing integrated and systematic methodological approaches for promoting economic, environmental and social sustainability. To that end, the present study provides a critical taxonomy of key decisions for facilitating the adoption of AGV systems into SC design and planning, as these are mapped on the relevant strategic, tactical and operational levels of the natural hierarchy. We then propose the Sustainable Supply Chain Cube (S2C2), a conceptual tool that integrates sustainable SC management with the proposed hierarchical decision-making framework for AGVs. Market opportunities and the potential of integrating AGVs into a SC context with the use of the S2C2 tool are further discussed

What is behind the brand? Social and environmental sustainability in the upstream phases of the denim value chain

The thesis aims to contribute to the literature of sustainability by undertaking a value chain perspective which asses the environmental and social sustainability practices and approaches adopted by the upstream suppliers within the italian denim value chian, the drivers in the industry and supplier' contribution in trasforming the denim industry in a more sustainable , traceable and transparent one. To achieve this aim, both a quantitative and explorative approach have been followed

Net zero supply chain performance and industry 4.0 technologies: past review and present introspective analysis for future research directions

Interest in applying Industry 4.0 technologies in supply chain operations has increased significantly due to the urgent need to combat climate change and achieve net-zero emissions. This study aims to thoroughly comprehend how Industry 4.0 technologies affect the efficiency of net-zero supply chains. To do so, the study systematically reviews the existing research using 68 academic papers that are thematically analysed and classified by potentials associated with Industry 4.0 in the context of net zero supply chain performance. The findings of this systematic literature review highlight the multifaceted role of Industry 4.0 technologies in achieving net-zero supply chain performance. However, the study also identifies challenges related to policy, technology, economy, and markets to harness these technologies effectively. A conceptual framework is proposed to help organizations strategically leverage Industry 4.0 technologies for sustainable supply chain performance. By identifying knowledge gaps, the review provides a roadmap for future research to explore the complex dynamics at the intersection of Industry 4.0 and sustainability. Practically, the study offers valuable insights for supply chain managers and policymakers on the opportunities and challenges associated with adopting Industry 4.0 technologies for sustainable practices. With the goal of achieving net-zero supply chain performance, this paper emphasizes the importance of a holistic, integrated approach to technology adoption and sustainability strategies