Individuals are suffering respiratory problems, cancer and allergies which are associated with pollution from manufacturing processes. Using 50% more resources than the earth can regenerate in one year leads to tremendous loss of intact eco-systems, biodiversity and liveable land. Industrial packaging highly contributes to this trend with disposable packaging material and globally connected supply chain networks. A looped packaging system can enable resource efficiency, decrease costs and waste and overcome human and environmental harm. Additionally, the supply chain can be made more efficient enabling Industry 4.0 with a smart container system. In this regard not only a circular, but also a mathematical model has been developed to evaluate industrial packaging materials in accordance with their environmental costs. The examined materials are first analysed in their life cycle using a cradle-to-gate approach. In a further evaluation, the developed circular model is transformed in a mathematical model comparing the materials with their associated total costs and benefits, including waste management policies, pollution and environmental costs.
Author(s): David Meinel
Publisher: Diplomica Verlag
Year: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 130
City: Hamburg
Life cycle and cost-benefit analysis of industrial packaging material. A full evaluation of the environmental costs
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
Preface
1.) Introduction
1.1.) Problem Formulation
1.2.) Objective
1.3.) Methodology
2.) Literature Review
3.) Circular Economy
3.1.) Closed-Loop Supply Chain
3.2.) Circular Model
4.) Packaging Material
4.1.) Plastics
5.) Bio-based Packaging Material
5.1.) Bioplastics
6.) Waste Management
6.1.) Recycling
6.2.) Incineration
6.3.) Landfilling
6.4.) Biodegradation
6.5.) Results
7.) Life Cycle Analysis
7.1.) Definition
7.2.) Polyethylene
7.3.) Polypropylene
7.4.) Corrugated Paper
7.5.) Bio-based Polyethylene
7.6.) Bio-based Polypropylene
7.7.) Evaluation and interpretation
8.) Cost-Benefit Analysis
8.1.) Model
8.2.) Notation
8.3.) Mathematical Formulation
8.4.) Application
8.5.) Results
9.) Implications
10.) Further Research
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
References
