Designing logistics networks based on sustainable tertiary transport packaging solutions under a circular economy

The packaging industry has a considerable impact in the economy, environment and society. Along with its increasing importance, comes a high responsibility regarding its effect on sustainability, a growing matter of concern in the recent years. Political pressure and consumer perceptions are pushing the packaging industry to adopt sustainable practices such as the use of alternative sustainable materials. Packaging is divided in primary, secondary and tertiary levels and tertiary packaging plays a major role in transportation processes to increase the logistics efficiency of supply chains. However, tertiary transport packaging is generating excessive waste. For reasons like this, the Circular Economy emerges as an alternative economic model, in which Supply Chain Management assumes high relevance for implementing a logistics network design that entails Closed-Loop Supply Chains. This Thesis has the objective of designing alternative logistics networks, based on sustainable tertiary transport packaging solutions, under a context of Circular Economy, meanwhile contributing for the practical solution of a company’s business challenge. Based on a literature review, insights on important areas are systematized to proceed with an analyzis of packaging suppliers’ logistics networks with sustainable closed-loop practices that impact sustainability performance of their supply chains. The best material-supplier option is selected to proceed with a case study where different scenarios are assumed. Finally, important conclusions and solutions are presented to improve the performance of the selected logistics network.A indústria das embalagens gera um impacto considerável na economia, ambiente e sociedade. Existe uma responsabilidade maior no que diz respeito ao seu efeito na sustentabilidade, uma questão cada vez mais preocupante nos últimos anos. A pressão política e a perceção do consumidor estão a forçar a indústria das embalagens a adotar práticas sustentáveis tais como o uso de materiais alternativos sustentáveis. As embalagens dividem-se em primárias, secundárias e terciárias, sendo que as terciárias desempenham um papel importante no transporte, de forma a aumentar a eficiência logística das cadeias de abastecimento. Contudo, as embalagens terciárias de transporte geram desperdício excessivo. Posto isto, a Economia Circular surge como um modelo económico alternativo, onde a gestão da cadeia de abastecimento assume elevada relevância para implementar um design de rede logística que envolva Cadeias de Abastecimento de Circuito Fechado. Esta Tese tem como objetivo conceber redes logísticas alternativas, baseadas em soluções sustentáveis de embalagens terciárias de transporte, num contexto de Economia Circular, enquanto contribui para a resolução prática do desafio de uma empresa. Com base numa revisão de literatura, procede-se a uma sistematização de conhecimento em áreas importantes para analisar redes logísticas de fornecedores de embalagens, com práticas sustentáveis de circuito fechado que impactam o desempenho de sustentabilidade das suas cadeias de abastecimento. A melhor opção de material-fornecedor é selecionada para prosseguir com um estudo de caso onde diferentes cenários são assumidos. Por fim, são apresentadas conclusões e soluções importantes para melhorar o desempenho da rede logística selecionada

INTEGRATED DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF LOGISTIC NETWORKS: ORIENTED PLACEMENT OF THE ORDER PENETRATION POINT

The placement of the order penetration point (OPP) is a key decision in automotive supply chains since the product will be differentiated according to the customers’ requirements only after the OPP. From a marketing perspective variety proliferation is encouraged. Yet, competition has shifted from individual firms to global supply chains and under given market uncertainty the significance of supply chain flexibility is increasing. Upstream however, the expansion of outsourcing, supplier rationalization and lean production practices has yielded substantial progress in terms of supply chain efficiency. In order to economically operate the supply chain, the positioning of order penetration points is vital to inflict as much downstream process and product flexibility to be amenable to changing market demand and to guarantee as much upstream stability to allow for accurate and risk-controlled planning of cost-efficient supply chain processes. This paper identifies and analyses the main factors related to OPP problems and presents a method for OPP positioning under a supply chain perspective, integrating the influence of product diversity and supply chain flexibility over a complete product life-cycle systematically

Book of abstracts of the 24th Euro Working Group on Transportation Meeting

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Case Study : Product-specific Sustainable Marketing Audit : Delta Q

Mestrado em MarketingThe financial crisis, climate change, earthquakes and global warming, almost made to forget about pollution, dry seasons and famine countries. Only the fuel price peak made way for us to become aware of resource scarcity, and in general, about global natural resources depletion, along with greenhouse effect gases and the exhaustion of earth carrying capacity. Furthermore, become clear the mankind responsibility for this situation, and mainly the economic production models set in motion after World War II, based on cheap natural energy sources, but non-renewable. At the core of those economic production models are the corporations, and the marketing function they perform. so, marketing management plays a determinant role for the environmental chaos where we are immersed. The new paradigm of sustainable marketing, developed by Professor Donald A. Fuller can reverse this trend, and contribute for different production models in respect for the environment. The present case study aim to perform a sustainable marketing audit to a product-specific in order to: Perform a sustainable audit to the product-specific; Assess the product-specific sustainability; Identify differentiation and innovation measures that can become marketing advantages; Assess the product's commitment to ecological and social responsibility. The new sustainable marketing framework was applied to the capsulated coffee brand Delta Q, from the Portuguese coffee industry leading company, DELTA Cafés. The research produced a clear Delta Q environmental strategic positioning regarding P2 (Pollution Prevention) and R2 (Resource Recovery) basic sustainable marketing goals. It resulted also in a SWOT analysis covering both company and the product-specific, regarding every dimension of the production and marketing processes dealing with waste generation, which allow devising a future sound sustainable strategy. Other research findings were the opportunities to develop marketing advantages through Delta Q production and distribution processes differentiation and/or innovation. Moreover, the research came to prove the framework operability and allowed the identification of important issues for further investigation, like cost-structure impact of the sustainable marketing approach, or the internalization of eco-cost into the product's price.A crise financeira, as alterações climáticas, os terramotos e o aquecimento global, quase fizeram esquecer a poluição, a seca e fome em muitos países. Apenas o pico do preço do petróleo, abriu caminho para nos tornarmos conscientes da escassez de recursos e, em geral, do esgotamento dos recursos naturais globais, juntamente com os gases com efeito de estufa e do esgotamento da capacidade terra. Além disso, tornou-se clara a responsabilidade da humanidade para esta situação e, principalmente, os modelos de produção económica implementados após a Segunda Guerra Mundial, com base em fontes de energia naturais baratas, mas não renováveis. No núcleo dos modelos de produção económica estão as empresas, bem como as funções de marketing que desempenham. Assim, a gestão de marketing desempenha um papel determinante para o caos ambiental em que nos encontramos imersos. O novo paradigma do marketing sustentável, desenvolvido pelo Professor Donald A. Fuller, pode inverter esta tendência e contribuir para desenvolver modelos de produção diferentes em relação ao meio ambiente. O objectivo do presente estudo de caso é realizar uma auditoria de marketing sustentável para: Auditar a sustentabilidade do produto-específico; Avaliar a sustentabilidade do produto-específico; Identificar medidas de diferenciação e inovação que possam constituir vantagens de marketing; Avaliar o compromisso do produto-específico com a responsabilidade ecológica e social. A nova abordagem do marketing sustentável foi aplicada à marca de café capsulado Delta Q, da empresa portuguesa líder da indústria de café, DELTA Cafés. Da pesquisa resultou um posicionamento, ambiental e estratégico, claro do Delta Q em relação aos objectivos básicos do marketing sustentável: P2 (Prevenção da Poluição) e R2 (Recuperação de Recursos), como objectivos básicos do marketing sustentável. Resultou também uma análise SWOT que abrange tanto a empresa como o produto-específico, em relação a cada dimensão dos processos de produção e comercialização que são responsáveis pela geração de resíduos e, que permitem definir uma estratégia sustentável para o futuro. Outro resultado da pesquisa foi a identificação das oportunidades para desenvolver vantagens de marketing através de diferenciação e inovação do produto e respectivos processos de produção e distribuição. Adicionalmente, a pesquisa permitiu concluir sobre a operacionalidade da nova abordagem do marketing sustentável e identificar questões importantes para futuras investigações, tais como o impacto do marketing sustentável na estrutura de custos, ou a internalização dos custos ecológicos no processo de formação do preço do produto

Conceptual aspects management of competitiveness the economic entities: collective monograph

The authors of the book have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to effectively use modern approaches the management of competitiveness the economic entities in order to increase the efficiency of using the resource potential, formation of competitive advantages and development strategies. Basic research focuses on economic diagnostics of ensuring the competitiveness of economic entities, marketing and logistics, analysis of energy-efficient potential, assessment of development potential. The research results have been implemented in the different models of inventory management, corporate social responsibility management, business process management and project management. The results of the study can be used in decision-making at the level the economic entities in different areas of activity and organizational-legal forms of ownership, ministries and departments that promote of development the economic entities and increase their competitiveness. The results can also be used by students and young scientists in modern concepts and mechanisms for management of competitiveness the economic entities in the context of efficient use the resource potential and introduction of modern innovations

Renewable hydrogen supply chains: A planning matrix and an agenda for future research

Worldwide, energy systems are experiencing a transition to more sustainable systems. According to the Hydrogen Roadmap Europe (FCH EU, 2019), hydrogen will play an important role in future energy systems due to its ability to support sustainability goals and will account for approximately 13% of the total energy mix in the coming future. Correct hydrogen supply chain (HSC) planning is therefore vital to enable a sustainable transition, in particular when hydrogen is produced by water electrolysis using electricity from renewable sources (renewable hydrogen). However, due to the operational characteristics of the renewable HSC, its planning is complicated. Renewable hydrogen supply can be diverse: Hydrogen can be produced de-centrally with renewables, such as wind and solar energy, or centrally by using electricity generated from a hydro power plant with a large volume. Similarly, demand for hydrogen can also be diverse, with many new applications, such as fuels for fuel cell electrical vehicles and electricity generation, feedstocks in industrial processes, and heating for buildings. The HSC consists of various stages (production, storage, distribution, and applications) in different forms, with strong interdependencies, which further increase HSC complexity. Finally, planning of an HSC depends on the status of hydrogen adoption and market development, and on how mature technologies are, and both factors are characterised by high uncertainties. Directly adapting the traditional approaches of supply chain (SC) planning for HSCs is insufficient. Therefore, in this study we develop a planning matrix with related planning tasks, leveraging a systematic literature review to cope with the characteristics of HSCs. We focus only on renewable hydrogen due to its relevance to the future low-carbon economy. Furthermore, we outline an agenda for future research, from the supply chain management perspective, in order to support renewable HSC development, considering the different phases of renewable HSCs adoption and market development

Social, environmental and economic impacts of alternative energy and fuel supply chains

Energy supply nowadays, being a vital element of a country’s development, has to independently meet diverse, sustainability criteria, be it economic, environmental and social. The main goal of the present research work is to present a methodological framework for the evaluation of alternative energy and fuel Supply Chains (SCs), consisting of a broad topology (representation) suggested, encompassing all the well-known energy and fuel SCs, under a unified scheme, a set of performance measures and indices as well as mathematical model development, formulated as Multi-objective Linear Programming with the extension of incorporating binary decisions as well (Multi-objective Mixed Integer-Linear programming). Basic characteristics of the current modelling approach include the adaptability of the model to be applied at different levels of energy SCs decisions, under different time frames and for multiple stakeholders. Model evaluation is carried for a set of Greek islands, located in the Aegean Archipelagos, examining both the existing energy supply options as well future, more sustainable Energy Supply Chains (ESCs) configurations. Results of the specific research work reveal the social and environmental costs which are underestimated under the traditional energy supply options' evaluation, as well as the benefits that may be produced from renewable energy based applications in terms of social security and employment

Sustainable Development Report: Blockchain, the Web3 & the SDGs

This is an output paper of the applied research that was conducted between July 2018 - October 2019 funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and conducted by the Research Institute for Cryptoeconomics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and RCE Vienna (Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development).Series: Working Paper Series / Institute for Cryptoeconomics / Interdisciplinary Researc

Competitive Sustainable Globalization General Considerations and Perspectives

Globalization has essentially empowered both newly industrialized and early industrialized countries but also caused considerable global challenges on economic, environmental, and social stability. Trends and risks of globalization and sustainability are specified by reports of global stakeholders as IMF, OECD, UN and its related organizations, WEF, WTO, and WWF. Competitive Sustainable Globalization (CSG) is introduced as a new paradigm and as a means to cope with the respective challenges. Competitive Sustainable Manufacturing (CSM) can be a fundamental enabler for CSG, proposing a global as well as a local approach for manufacturing. Potentials of value creation by manufacturing with reference to business models, education, and innovation are presented