Analyzing the packaging strategy of packaging-free supermarkets. (10th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scharpenberg, Christina; Schmehl, Meike; Glimbovski, Milena; Geldermann, Jutta
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 292(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-10
• Subjects: Mode of transport -- Life cycle assessment (LCA) -- Supply chain -- Packaging -- Zero-waste -- Food; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Providing consumers with groceries generates large quantities of waste at various supply-chain stages. Packaging-free supermarkets like "Original Unverpackt" (OU) in Berlin (Germany) aim to reduce this waste and the associated negative environmental impacts. To date, there have been no studies with comprehensive, quantitative environmental data for packaging-free supermarkets. In analyzing the OU model, our goal is to analyze the potential environmental advantages of packaging-free supermarkets, quantify and identify the potential changes of environmental burden on this example. A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for six typical OU-supermarket product packages - chia-seeds, shower gel, fruit bears, dishwashing detergent, noodles and tofu is conducted. Following ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 guidelines, we compare the OU product packaging types to their conventionally packaged counterparts. First, seven impact categories according to the LCA impact assessment methodology "ReCiPe Midpoint (Hierarchist) without long term" are examined. These seven categories are then aggregated to generate an overall result. To test the stability of the results, the parameters are varied in a sensitivity analysis. In the impact category, "climate change" four out of six OU product packaging types perform better than their counterparts. However, the package of fruit bears at OU performs 45% worse than the counterpart, due to extra effort required to clean the dispenser. An 83% increase in greenhouse gas emissions for the OU tofu package made of glass results mainly from the production of the glass and its transport. Although the OU packaging strategy performs relatively well, there is still room for improvement. Here, considering the entire supply chain plays an important role, since customer behavior, cleaning processes, the choice of packaging material, and the means of transport significantly affect the LCA. Highlights: Analyzing supply chain differences of packaging-free and conventional supermarkets at hand of six product packaging types. Significant supply-chain differences between the OU and conventional packaging strategies contribute to LCA results. Considering the entire supply chain is important: different supply chain stages significantly affect the LCA results. Packaging strategies of the packaging free supermarket outperform their counterparts for four product packaging types. This study identified strengths and weaknesses and offered ideas for further improvements to OUs packaging strategy.