The environmental impact of distribution to retail channels: A case study on packaged beverages

This study aims to quantify the environmental impact of two retail distribution networks and offer consumers a channel that is more beneficial to the environment. The environmental impact of replenishing the packaged beverages sold in convenience stores (CVSs) and hypermarkets is assessed using the streamlined life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach. In this study, the life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) for packaged beverages up to the point of sale illustrates the distribution-level environmental impacts of truck transportation. The matched-pair t-test shows that the environmental impacts of transporting 1800 cartons of 24-pack/10 oz. beverages to be sold in Carrefour and 7-11 stores is different at a significance level of 0.1. The transport-focused LCA is used to improve the understanding and compare the environmental characteristics of the two distribution and retail systems. This study constitutes a vehicle for communicating to both internal and external stakeholders the environmental profiles of distributing the same product sold through two retail channels.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2015.11.008
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920915002035
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13619209
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Wang, Jenhung
  • Zhuang, Herhome
  • Lin, Pei-Chun
• Publication Date: 2016-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 17-27
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
  • Volume: 43
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1361-9209
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Environmental impacts; Life cycle analysis; Physical distribution; Retail trade
• Subject Areas: Environment; Freight Transportation; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01592221
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 29 2016 4:57PM