Estimating the effect of changing retailing structures on the greenhouse gas performance of FMCG distribution networks

Exploring greenhouse gas reduction opportunities for retailers in Fast Moving Consumer Goods distribution networks

Life-cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from dairy production in Eastern Canada: A case study

This study aims to assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Poy(lactic acid) (PLA) with cassava starch blend (PLA/starch) and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) trays from cradle to grave. The various waste treatment scenarios were considered. The functional unit is specified as 10,000 units of 8 x 10 x 2.5 cm. of PLA/starch and PET trays which weigh 597.6 and 582.7.5 kilograms, respectively. The results from cradle to production gate were found that GHG emissions of PLA/starch has 51.38% lower than that of PET. This is because PET has higher weight of the trays. The resin production stage of PET tray has the highest of greenhouse GHG emissions. The results from cradle to grave show that the highest total GHG emissions are observed from PLA/starch or PET trays with 90% of landfill and 10% of incineration. The lowest GHG emissions from disposal PLA/starch and PET trays are from landfill with biogas recovery and incineration with heat recovery. This can be reduced GHG emissions by 3.11103 and 1.28103 kg CO2 equivalent.

Connecting food supply chains

Life cycle assessment of primary energy demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of four propylene production pathways in China

The work presents a method of assessing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of forest-based biomass supply chains on a site-specific level. The method includes biomass availability and transportation network assessments based on geographical information system data, and GHG emission assessment based on life-cycle assessment methods. The GHG assessment takes into account distances traveled on the various types of road by trucks. Two case studies are presented, with 720 TJ year−1 of small-diameter energy wood chips delivered to two locations in Finland: Mikkeli and Rovaniemi. In the case studies, possibilities for train transportation from distant supply areas were included. Regarding railway transportation, it was assumed that the end-points have direct railway connections. The case study results show that if direct truck transportation around the plants were supplemented with one trainload per week (230 TJ year−1) from suitably located railway loading points, GHG emission savings of 8 % could be achieved in both cases. The most GHG-efficient supply chains around the railway loading points were found to be based on transportation of loose trees to the loading spots. Because of better biomass availability and better roads, the emissions of the least GHG-emitting supply chain were 9 % lower in Mikkeli’s case than for Rovaniemi. The results indicate that site-specific biomass availability and transportation possibilities should be taken into account in assessment of the GHG emissions of a particular biomass supply chain. Also, if suitable conditions exist, railway transportation offers potential for reduced supply-chain GHG emissions.

This paper presents a preliminary assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from all major hydropower reservoirs in Malaysia from the period of 1930–2017. The GHG emissions are calculated based on the Tier 1 method as recommended in International Government Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines. The results showed that approximately 151.64 Gg of annual methane emission released from hydropower dams in Peninsular Malaysia. While in East Malaysia, hydropower dams release 235.7 Gg of methane emission annually. Bakun dam contributes the most 41.26% of total annual methane emission from hydropower dams in Malaysia. Ulu Jelai hydroelectric dam with design power capacity of 372 MW contributes the least CH4 emission of 0.02 Gg CH4 yr−1. It is seen that high head hydroelectric dam with small reservoir surface area is the most sustainable hydropower dam in reducing the GHG emission. However, long-term measurements must be made in order to clarify the net GHG emissions from reservoir surface, turbines, spillway and downstream river of hydropower dams in Malaysia.

PurposeInternational comparison studies provide a useful opportunity in logistics to benchmark logistics practices. Given this, it is perhaps surprising that there do not appear to be any benchmarking studies comparing performance between the developed and developing world. The paper aims to address this shortcoming, focusing on fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution networks from the UK and South Africa as comparator countries.Design/methodology/approachA two‐stage study has been undertaken. Firstly, a focus group approach was undertaken to identify the main causes of supply chain uncertainty affecting freight transport operations in FMCG distribution. In the second phase, four case studies (two in the UK and two in South Africa) were undertaken to examine how logistics is managed and the impact of uncertainty.FindingsIn the focus groups undertaken in both countries, the uncertainty clusters found were very similar, if not the same. However, when looking into the findings from the case studies, the extra miles generated due to uncertainty within the supply chains studied was greater in the South African distribution networks studied than in their UK counterparts. Furthermore, the UK distribution networks studied seem to be more effective in terms of uncertainty preparedness and responsiveness than their South African counterparts.Originality/valueThe paper has identified significant differences in terms of uncertainty preparedness and responsiveness within the distribution networks studied from the UK and South Africa. Nevertheless, more case studies need to be run in both countries, and in different sectors, to verify those differences.

PurposeGreen supply chain management and new product innovation and diffusion have become quite popular and act as a rich source of providing competitive advantage for companies to trade without further deteriorating environmental quality. However, research on low-carbon footprint supply chain configuration for a new product represents a comparably new trend and needs to be explored further. Using relatively simple models, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how carbon emissions concerns, such as carbon emission caps and carbon tax scheme, could be integrated into an operational decision, such as product procurement, production, storage and transportation concerning new fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) product introduction.Design/methodology/approachThe situation titled “low-carbon footprint supply chain configuration problems” is mathematically formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem under the dynamic and stochastic phenomenon concerning receiver’s demand requirements and production plant capacity constraints. Further, the effects of demand and capacities’ uncertainties are modeled using the chance constraint approach proposed by Charnes and Cooper (1959, 1963).FindingsVarious cases have been validated using the case example of a new FMCG product manufacturer. To validate the proposed models, data are generated randomly and solved using optimization software LINGO 10.0.Originality/valueThe attempt is novel in the context of considering the dynamic and stochastic phenomenon with respect to demand center’s requirements and manufacturing plant’s capacity constraints with regard to the low-carbon footprints supply chain configuration of a new FMCG product.

<h3>Introduction</h3> The SABA Use IN Asthma (SABINA) programme associates SABA overuse (prescription of ≥3 canisters per year versus 0–2) with increased risk of exacerbations and asthma-related healthcare utilisation¹; with this overuse common across Europe.² In parallel, the environmental impact of inhaler choice receives attention but is often focussed on preventers. We analysed the volume of SABA use and its GHG emissions versus total inhaler devices and compared the U.K. with other European countries. Next, we calculated the annual volume and GHG emissions from SABA overuse in asthma in the U.K. using the SABINA U.K. study data. <h3>Methods</h3> Inhaler use was calculated using sales data obtained from life science analytics company IQVIA™ over 12 months to September 2019. Data were compared by dose, preventing confounding from device actuation count differences. SABA overuse volume in asthma <i>i.e.</i> sum of prescribing ≥3 prescriptions in 12 months, was extracted from Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD as part of SABINA U.K. (≥12 years, current asthma diagnosis, any severity, 12 month period between 2007–2019). GHG emissions of inhaler devices were estimated using published and internal AstraZeneca data on their full life cycle. <h3>Results</h3> SABA represents the majority of inhaler use and of GHG emissions in the U.K. and its neighbours (table 1). However, U.K. SABA use and GHG emissions per capita are approximately treble those of other countries. In SABINA U.K., 284,683 out of 574,913 asthma patients were potentially overusing SABA. The average for this group was 6.51 prescriptions per year. 83% of SABA prescriptions for asthma went to patients overusing SABA. For the U.K. asthma population this represents 9.24 million SABA prescriptions and 250,000 tonnes of CO₂[equivalent] annually. <h3>Conclusion</h3> These data demonstrate the GHG emissions associated with high SABA use across Europe and particularly in the U.K. Implementing guidelines to drive improvements in asthma care would improve asthma control, thereby reducing reliever medication use and exacerbation frequency, benefiting patients and realising carbon savings that go beyond the reduction in SABA use alone. <h3>Reference</h3> Bloom CI, <i>et al</i>. <i>Adv Ther</i> 2020: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-020-01444-5 Janson C, <i>et al</i>. <i>Adv Ther</i> 2020: <b>37</b>; 1124–1135

SummaryThis study presents the carbon footprint of a paperback book for which the cover and inside papers were produced in the United States and printed in Canada. The choice of paper mills for both cover and page papers was based on criteria such as percentage of recycled content in the pulp mix, transport distances (pulp mill to paper mill, paper mill to print), and technologies. The cradle‐to‐gate assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions follows recognized guidelines for carbon footprint assessment. The results show that the production of 400,000 books, mainly distributed in North America, would generate 1,084 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2‐eq), or 2.71 kilograms (kg) CO2‐eq per book. The impact of using deinked market pulp (DMP) is shown here to be detrimental, accounting for 54% of total GHG emissions and being 32% higher than reference virgin Kraft pulp. This supports findings that DMP mill GHG emissions strongly correlate with the carbon intensity of the power grid supplying the pulp mill and that virgin Kraft mills that reuse wood residue and black liquor to produce heat and electricity can achieve lower GHG emissions per tonne of pulp produced. Although contrary to common thinking, this is consistent with the Paper Task Force 2002 conclusion for office paper (the closest paper grade to writing paper or fine paper) (EDF 2002a). To get a cradle‐to‐grave perspective, three different end‐of‐life (EOL) scenarios were analyzed, all of which included a harvested wood product (HWP) carbon storage benefit for 25 years. The GHG offset concept within the context of the book editor's “carbon‐neutral” paper claims is also discussed.

Mitigating Curtailment and Carbon Emissions through Load Migration between Data Centers

Major US electric utility climate pledges have the potential to collectively reduce power sector emissions by one-third

Sustainability of sunflower cultivation for biodiesel production in Tuscany within the EU Renewable Energy Directive

FMCGs (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) market in India is fast changing, not only with the shift in Indian demographic segments of India. Manufacturers and marketers of FMCGs adopt tailored strategies to attract and influence the buying of innovative products among consumers. This article to aims to assess the FMCGs buying behaviours among Consumers in Palakkad district and to measure the consumers' attitude towards the acceptance of innovation introduced in FMCGs and their satisfaction with the innovation introduced. The article is exploratory and descriptive in nature. The authors adopted qualitative and quantitative techniques for data analysis and for drawing interpretations. The researcher distributed 250 questionnaires in the urban regions of Palakkad district in Kerala and succeeded in collecting 225 fully-filled in questionnaires from the respondents i.e., FMCGs consumers residing in Palakkad district. Found that 92 per cent of the sample consumers appreciated the innovation incorporated in a specific product design (changes in the shape and style of the product). FMCGs consumers claimed satisfaction with the innovation in FMCGs products' design (changes in the shape &amp; style of the product) (87.91 per cent). It was concluded that there exists an association between the type of FMCGs innovation encountered by them and their post-purchase satisfaction realised by them. The article concluded with an awakening thought that FMCGs' buyer market is huge and completely different from other Asian and Western country buyers, as consumers are divided into different segments based on their demographic status, social class, regional impurities, religious practices, caste system, and various psychological aspects. The authors suggest that FMCGs manufacturers and marketers to understand the above-mentioned criteria while introducing a new product or innovative products in a specific segment and innovation should be combined with health, product features (natural /herbal etc.,) and environment-conscious features, to attract the buyer segment across all geographical regions and social segments.