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Environmental Impacts of Reusable Transport Items: A Case Study of Pallet Pooling in a Retailer Supply Chain

Author

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  • Riccardo Accorsi

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Giulia Baruffaldi

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Riccardo Manzini

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Chiara Pini

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

Manufacturing, storage, and transportation processes are typically facilitated by pallets, containers, and other reusable transport items (RTIs) designed to guarantee many cycles along a lifespan of several years. As a consequence, both supply and reverse transportation of RTIs need to be managed to avoid stockout along the supply chain and the unsustainable production of new tools from virgin materials. This paper focuses on the business of pallet management by analyzing the transport operations of a pallet pooling network serving a large-scale nationwide retailer. The pooler is responsible for supplying, collecting, and refurbishing pallets. The combination of the pooler’s management strategies with different retailer network configurations results in different pooling scenarios, which are assessed and compared in this paper through a what-if analysis. The logistical and environmental impacts generated by the pallet distribution activities are quantified per each scenario through a tailored software incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) and routing functionalities. Findings from this analysis suggest how to reduce vehicle distance traveled (vehicles-km) by 65% and pollutant emissions by 60% by combining network infrastructures and pooling management strategies—identifying an empirical best practice for managers of pallet businesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Riccardo Accorsi & Giulia Baruffaldi & Riccardo Manzini & Chiara Pini, 2019. "Environmental Impacts of Reusable Transport Items: A Case Study of Pallet Pooling in a Retailer Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:11:p:3147-:d:237087
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carrano, Andres L. & Pazour, Jennifer A. & Roy, Debjit & Thorn, Brian K., 2015. "Selection of pallet management strategies based on carbon emissions impact," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 258-270.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lehner, Roland, 2023. "Cross-Supply Chain Collaboration Platform for Pallet Management," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 138753, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    2. Hao Yu & Jiaqi Yang & Xipei Kang & Zhe Cong & Siwei Yao, 2022. "Empty Pallet Allocation Optimization in Shipbuilding Using a Pallet Pool System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Jianwei Ren & Chunhua Chen & Jian Gao & Chenxi Feng, 2020. "An optimization model for fleet sizing and empty pallet allocation considering CO2 emissions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Fabiana Tornese & Maria Grazia Gnoni & Brian K. Thorn & Andres L. Carrano & Jennifer A. Pazour, 2021. "Management and Logistics of Returnable Transport Items: A Review Analysis on the Pallet Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-23, November.
    5. Najoua Lakhmi & Evren Sahin & Yves Dallery, 2022. "Modelling the Returnable Transport Items (RTI) Short-Term Planning Problem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-23, December.
    6. Jan Pešta & Markéta Šerešová & Vladimír Kočí, 2020. "Carbon Footprint Assessment of Construction Waste Packaging Using the Package-to-Product Indicator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-23, December.
    7. Liu, Guoquan & Li, Lei & Chen, Jianghang & Ma, Fei, 2020. "Inventory sharing strategy and optimization for reusable transport items," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    8. Hugo Barros & Teresa Pereira & António G. Ramos & Fernanda A. Ferreira, 2021. "Complexity Constraint in the Distributor’s Pallet Loading Problem," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(15), pages 1-20, July.
    9. Fatima Ezzahra Achamrah & Fouad Riane & Evren Sahin & Sabine Limbourg, 2022. "An Artificial-Immune-System-Based Algorithm Enhanced with Deep Reinforcement Learning for Solving Returnable Transport Item Problems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-29, May.

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