scholarly journals Packaging-Related Food Losses and Waste: An Overview of Drivers and Issues

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Wohner ◽  
Erik Pauer ◽  
Victoria Heinrich ◽  
Manfred Tacker
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Shelf Life ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Protective Function ◽  
Food Losses

Packaging is often criticized as a symbol of today’s throwaway society, as it is mostly made of plastic, which is in itself quite controversial, and is usually used only once. However, as packaging’s main function is to protect its content and 30% of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted along the supply chain, optimized packaging may be one of the solutions to reduce this staggering amount. Developing countries struggle with losses in the supply chain before food reaches the consumer. Here, appropriate packaging may help to protect food and prolong its shelf life so that it safely reaches these households. In developed countries, food tends to be wasted rather at the household’s level due to wasteful behavior. There, packaging may be one of the drivers due to inappropriate packaging sizes and packaging that is difficult to empty. When discussing the sustainability of packaging, its protective function is often neglected and only revolves around the type and amount of material used for production. In this review, drivers, issues, and implications of packaging-related food losses and waste (FLW) are discussed, as well as the implication for the implementation in life cycle assessments (LCA).

Dicussions and Conclusion

2016 ◽  
pp. 341-354
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Future Challenge ◽  
Efficient Delivery

The rationale for this publication emanated from the challenges facing the efficient delivery of construction projects in developing countries. Although, some aspects of the book focus on key applications in Cameroon, a holistic approach was adopted where an overview of challenges related to construction for developing countries was considered. To re-focus issues addressed in this book, this last Chapter provides a summary of what has been covered in each Chapter. Also, major achievements and challenges will be discussed. Nevertheless a construction matter can not be seriously handled today without taking into account environmental issues. For this reason, we will say just a few words about environment. Indeed, wherever infrastructures in general and buildings in particular through production and emission of toxic matters and gas have harmful consequences on the environment. They must be assessed and monitored to reduce the risk of pollution. Among many environmental assessment methods, life cycle assessment (LCA) seems to be the most suitable. Wherever, it involves a lot of data and must be handling with a lot of caution. The life cycle assessment tools used in developed countries is not suitable in developing countries context. It should be benefit for them to develop a simple and suitable methodology easy to manage, in order to propose an environmental impacts measurement of construction projects' and buildings. The High Environmental Quality, which a priori ensures minimized environmental impact and promotes the principles of sustainable development, is the solution that seems best suited for the design of many social infrastructures projected in developing countries. This is going to be for them the future challenge for the next decades.

Waste management and environmental impact of absorbent hygiene products: A review

2020 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2095427
Author(s):  
Maribel Velasco Perez ◽  
Perla Xochitl Sotelo Navarro ◽  
Alethia Vazquez Morillas ◽  
Rosa María Espinosa Valdemar ◽  
Jéssica Paola Hermoso Lopez Araiza
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Municipal Waste ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Wide Range

Absorbent hygiene products (AHP) have received much interest due to the notion that their end-of-life (EoL) stage has high environmental impacts. Since the use of AHP will continue to rise in the foreseeable future, information that helps with a reduction in the environmental impacts of AHP through their life cycle is needed. This research presents an estimation of AHP in municipal waste, and it also reviews and discusses waste management options, available treatments at bench, pilot or full scale, and life cycle assessments (LCAs) available in the literature. Municipal waste of countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development contains on average 2.7% of baby nappies, 4.8% of adult nappies and 0.5% of sanitary pads (in weight), whereas that of Latin-American countries have 7.3%, 3.3%, and 0.9%, respectively. Management options for AHP waste in developed countries are landfilling and incineration, while in developing countries AHP are disposed of in dumpsites and landfills. Most LCAs identify significant environmental impacts in the production of raw materials, while EoL scenarios involving incineration and landfill were found to have a significant contribution to global warming potential. Substitution with alternative products has been suggested as a way of decreasing environmental impacts; however, their use frequently causes a trade-off on different impact categories. Municipalities could use a wide range of policy tools, such as extended producer responsibility systems, bans, levies, ecolabelling, or a combination of these, to reduce the environmental and economic burden of AHP waste.

Comparative study on Life Cycle Assessment of buildings in developed countries and Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isuri Anuradha Amarasinghe ◽  
Dumindu Soorige ◽  
Devindi Geekiyanage
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Environmental Friendliness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status

PurposeLife cycle assessment (LCA) has considerably contributed to increasing the environmental friendliness of buildings in developed countries. However, it is hard to find evidence on the application of LCA for buildings in developing countries; particularly, Sri Lanka. There is a lack of research to compare the status of LCA of buildings in developed countries vs developing countries. In this context, the purpose of this study aims to examine the status of LCA implementation for buildings between developed countries and Sri Lanka, a developing country.Design/methodology/approachThe exploratory research was adapted, and in-depth interviews were held with LCA professionals from Sri Lanka and developed countries, respectively.FindingsRelatively less attention has been paid to the implementation of LCA for buildings in Sri Lanka compared to the developed countries due to the time and effort required to collect life cycle inventory data and limited stakeholder understanding of the LCA. Hence, this study proposed improvements, including the development of LCA databases containing region-specific data and conducting programmes to raise stakeholders' awareness to address the gaps in Sri Lanka.Research limitations/implicationsThe identified LCA implementation process for buildings could be used as a guide for first-time LCA users, and it equally makes a valued reference for experienced practitioners.Originality/valueA limited number of the studies formulate a comparison between the LCA for building in developed countries and developing countries. This research attempts to address this knowledge gap.

scholarly journals Adopting International Learnings to Improve the Performance of New Zealand’s Infrastructure Supply Chain

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Jarrod Richards ◽  
Mostafa Seifan
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Project Failures ◽  
Common Goals ◽  
End To End ◽  
Mature Organizations ◽  
Project Lifecycle

Growing interest in the productivity of the infrastructure sector has increased due to cost and time overruns in major projects. In this regard, many developed countries have failed to implement a framework to ensure that project success is met through newly available technologies and business initiatives to ensure the user is the most important beneficiary. This review paper provides a review of international research relating to the life cycle, firm-level operations, and collaborative business models of infrastructure projects. The review initially identified the importance that understanding key phases and procurement models has on the efficiency of a project’s life cycle. A key indicator of the likelihood of good performance across a supply chain lies with the ability to understand the efficiencies of the firm-level operations. The literature has noted that successful projects are able to perform well across an organizations end-to-end involvement and be able to share risks among mature organizations. This paper provides a review of how a collaborative business model can benefit a project lifecycle and firm-level operations. The global research currently has identified the need for a collaborative approach that reduces the risk within all organizations through common goals, effective end-to-end project systems and consideration of the entire project lifecycle. The paper provides a detailed review of international practices in an infrastructure supply chain that have the potential to address New Zealand’s infrastructure project failures.

scholarly journals Reverse supply chain practices in developing countries: the case of Morocco

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 198-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamal El Baz ◽  
Regina Frei ◽  
Issam Laguir
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Reverse Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate reverse supply chain (RSC) practices and their obstacles using case studies of Moroccan companies. The authors present the main findings of case studies’ analysis along with a discussion of an RSC framework for further directions of research. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was adopted and semi-structured interviews with Moroccan companies were conducted using an interview guide. Findings The authors present an RSC model that encompasses remanufacturing, refurbishing and disposal processes. The authors believe that this model would constitute a promising framework for further research. The findings show that the successful implementation of RSC depends on many factors, but the company’s attitude (proactive or conservative) is one of the most critical determinants in RSC initiatives. Furthermore, the results of the case studies indicate two types of inhibitors: external and internal. These findings confirm the results of previous research on environmental sustainability obstacles in general and RSC obstacles in particular. Research limitations/implications This study has some limitations that provide future research opportunities. Because this study is qualitative, further statistical support is needed to justify wider generalisation of its findings. Further studies might therefore investigate RSC practices in developing countries other than Morocco to increase the external validity of the results. Practical implications The findings can help firms to gain better understanding of their RSC and particularly the link between forward and RSCs. Consequently, companies can upgrade their business models to better control their RSC activities. Originality/value The relevant literature about RSC practices has mainly targeted manufacturing sectors in developed countries, and few studies have been conducted on developing countries. Research on RSC practices in developing countries in general and African countries in particular is sparse. This is one of the first articles written to address this gap by investigating RSC practices in Morocco.

The impact of supply chain disruptions on stockholder wealth in India

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 938-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay Kumar ◽  
Jiangxia Liu ◽  
Jess Scutella
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Financial Impact ◽  
Supply Chain Disruptions ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa

Purpose – Supply chain structure, characteristics, and applicable policies differ between developing and developed countries. While most supply chain management research is directed toward supply chains in developed countries, the authors wish to explore the financial impact of disruptions on supply chains in a developing country. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of effective supply chain management practices that could help avoid or mitigate disruptions in Indian companies. The authors study the stock market impact of supply chain disruptions in Indian companies. The authors also aim to understand the difference in financial implications from disruptions between companies in India and the USA. Design/methodology/approach – Event study methodology is applied on supply chain disruptions data from Indian companies. The data are compiled from public news release in Indian press. A data set of 301 disruptions for a ten-year period from 2003-2012 is analyzed. Stock valuation of a company is used to assess the financial impact. Findings – The results show that Indian companies on average lose −2.88 percent of shareholder wealth in an 11-day window covering the event day and five days pre- and post-disruption announcement. A significant stock decline was observed as early as three days prior to announcement, indicating possibility of insider trading and information differentials between investors. Irrespective of the location and responsibility of a disruption, companies experience significant negative returns. Company size, book-to-market ratio, and debt-to-equity ratio were found to be insignificant in affecting the stock market reactions to disruptions. The authors also compiled supply chain disruptions data for US companies. When compared to the US companies, Indian companies register a significantly higher stock decline in the event of a disruption. Research limitations/implications – Supply chain disruptions data from India and the USA are analyzed. Broad applicability of results across countries may require studying other developing countries. The research demonstrates potential effectiveness of investment in supply chain management initiatives. It also motivates research focussed specifically on supply chains in developing countries. Practical implications – Supply chain decision makers in India could benefit from investment in disruptions management and mitigation practices. The results provide a valuation of effective supply chain management. The findings provide guidance for investors in making decisions when supply chains face disruptions. Originality/value – The paper studies the financial consequences of supply chain disruptions in a developing country. The study is valuable because of increasing globalization, outsourcing, and the economic role of developing countries.

scholarly journals Prioritized Solutions for Overcoming Barriers When Implementing Lean in the Healthcare Supply Chain: A Saudi Perspective

Logistics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz M. Almutairi ◽  
Mohammed Almanei ◽  
Ahmed Al-Ashaab ◽  
Konstantinos Salonitis
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The Body ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Research Gap

The main purpose of this paper is to propose solutions for overcoming the obstacles that healthcare organizations might face when implementing lean. An in-depth review of existing barriers for lean implementation in healthcare supply chain is presented and validated by experts. Although there is a widespread use of lean concepts in developed countries, little attention has been paid to implementing a lean approach by healthcare providers in developing countries. The present study’s key novelty and contribution is related to this research gap. The study is thus focused in proposing solutions for healthcare organisations in developing countries, especially in Saudi Arabia. The efficacy of these solutions is assessed through experts’ opinion. The paper enhances the body of knowledge for the successful implementation of lean in a hospital setting.

scholarly journals Design of a Distributed Wireless Sensor Platform for Monitoring and Real-Time Communication of the Environmental Variables during the Supply Chain of Perishable Commodities

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 6183
Author(s):  
Roque Torres-Sanchez ◽  
María Teresa Martínez Zafra ◽  
Fulgencio Soto-Valles ◽  
Manuel Jiménez-Buendía ◽  
Ana Toledo-Moreo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Shelf Life ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Collaborative Networks ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Sensor Platform ◽  
Food Losses ◽  
Quality And Shelf Life ◽  
Main Factor

Monitoring the main environmental conditions during storage and transportation of perishable foods is necessary to predict quality losses throughout shelf life. By far, temperature is the main factor affecting quality and shelf life, but there are other variables that would greatly affect quality losses such us relative humidity, O2, CO2, ethylene, etc. Thus, the real-time knowledge of the evolution of these parameters during the whole supply chain allows suppliers to prevent for food losses. This paper deeply describes the design of a flexible monitoring system with real-time communication to be used in the supply chain of perishable commodities, using Wi-Fi wireless communication as collaborative networks between different measurement points. Aspects such as consumption, performance and feasibility of the system are described in detail to check the adaptability of its use.

scholarly journals Drivers of Green Supply Chain Management: A Close-up Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaba Olasunkanmi Ososanmi ◽  
Lekan Damilola Ojo ◽  
Olajide Emmanuel Ogundimu ◽  
Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Management Team ◽  
Green Supply Chain Management ◽  
Green Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
The Government ◽  
Sustainability Initiatives

Abstract Green supply chain management (GSCM) is an important part of most production organisations in developed countries. Meanwhile, developing countries are yet to fully embrace the concept. This study, therefore, investigated the drivers of GSCM using a close-up approach in a leading manufacturing organisation in Nigeria with sustainability initiatives. One hundred and fifty-four questionnaires retrieved from the supply chain management team of the organisation were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean score, standard deviation, and factor analysis. Based on the results of the analyses, that the drivers of GSCM in the organisation could be grouped as government-related, organisational-related, and societal-related drivers. The study concluded that synergy of the government, organisations, non-government organisations, and individual is important for achieving green supply chain practices in developing countries. It was recommended that training at all levels is essential to improve the awareness and importance of sustainable production to the environment.

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