Comparison of the environmental impact of typical packaging systems for food cold chain express based on life cycle assessment

Abstract

With the rapid growth of e-commerce in the food industry, Food Cold Chain Express (FCCE) services have experienced significant expansion. These services typically entail extensive use of packaging items, including insulation boxes, insulation bags, and refrigeration materials, etc. This usage potentially leads to significant environmental burdens, encompassing resource consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and waste disposal. This study conducts a comparative environmental impacts analysis of two food cold chain packaging systems using life cycle assessment (LCA), for ice cream transportation. The reusable vacuum insulated panel (VIP) box packaging system demonstrates superior environmental performance when compared to the disposable expanded polystyrene (EPS) box packaging system across all evaluated impact categories. The results suggest that conclusions regarding lower environmental impact cannot be exclusively based on the choice of insulation material. The weight of the packaging and the transportation distance also exert a significant influence on the overall environmental performance of the systems. Furthermore, minimizing the environmental impact of dry ice usage by exploring alternatives is highlighted as a crucial aspect of sustainable packaging practices. The results provide valuable insights for optimizing cold chain packaging systems in the pursuit of environmental sustainability.