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Desired, Perceived, and Achieved Sustainability: Trade-Offs in Strategic and Operational Packaging Development

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  • Bjorn De Koeijer

    (Top Institute Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 557, 6700 AN Wageningen, The Netherlands
    Department of Design, Production and Management, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Jos De Lange

    (Department of Design, Production and Management, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Renee Wever

    (Division of Machine Design, Department of Management and Engineering, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden)

Abstract

The alignment of the strategic and the operational level of packaging development in relation to the integration of sustainability is not addressed extensively in current research. This paper aims to address this, by focusing on the decision-making interrelations of key actors (marketing and packaging development) within multidisciplinary product-packaging development teams. The research is conducted by means of a qualitative approach, consisting of semi-structured interviews with individual packaging development team members, complemented with a newly developed visualization tool. The research builds upon eight cases within brand owners, packaging material suppliers and packaging development consultants. The main findings of the study include the decision-making trade-offs between sustainability considerations and other project indicators, such as costs, time-to-market and technical challenges. These trade-offs are linked to the strategic and operational roles of key actors, and to internal and external factors influencing sustainable development processes. This research’s contribution is to address the alignment of the strategic and the operational levels of sustainable packaging development, in relation to (1) decision making and interrelations within multidisciplinary development teams; and (2) the relevance of development-influencing factors. This provides opportunities for further development of sustainable packaging models and tools, in order to align the strategic and operational level of development.

Suggested Citation

  • Bjorn De Koeijer & Jos De Lange & Renee Wever, 2017. "Desired, Perceived, and Achieved Sustainability: Trade-Offs in Strategic and Operational Packaging Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-29, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:10:p:1923-:d:116238
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Gonzalo Wandosell & María C. Parra-Meroño & Alfredo Alcayde & Raúl Baños, 2021. "Green Packaging from Consumer and Business Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Mariia Kravchenko & Daniela C. A. Pigosso & Tim C. McAloone, 2020. "A Trade-Off Navigation Framework as a Decision Support for Conflicting Sustainability Indicators within Circular Economy Implementation in the Manufacturing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-26, December.
    5. João Thiago de G. A. A. Campos & Renato de Castro Vivas & Adonias Magdiel Silva Ferreira & Francisco Gaudêncio Mendonça Freires, 2020. "Operational Decisions and Sustainability: A Brazilian Case of a Drugs Distribution Center," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-17, October.
    6. Shaorong Ji & Pang-Soong Lin, 2022. "Aesthetics of Sustainability: Research on the Design Strategies for Emotionally Durable Visual Communication Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-23, April.
    7. Jesús García-Arca & José A. Comesaña-Benavides & A. Trinidad González-Portela Garrido & J. Carlos Prado-Prado, 2020. "Rethinking the Box for Sustainable Logistics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-22, March.

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