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Evaluating the Energy Resources and Environmental Impacts for Blueberry Packaging Materials with a Focus on End-of-Life Scenarios

Author

Listed:
  • Viktoria Mannheim

    (Department of Engineering Management and Enterprise, Faculty of Engineering, University of Debrecen, Ótemető str. 2-4, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Ulvi Moor

    (Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia)

  • Liina Laumets

    (Educational Technology Centre, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
    Department of Geology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia)

  • Klára Tóthné Szita

    (Institute of World and Regional Economics, Faculty of Economics, University of Miskolc, 3515 Miskolc-Egyetemváros, Hungary)

Abstract

Because of their many health benefits, blueberries are highly sought after as superfoods. There are also ongoing initiatives to enhance sustainability in blueberry packaging by selecting appropriate materials. Ideal packaging should ensure the safe delivery of the fruit to consumers while maintaining product quality, addressing environmental concerns, and promoting circularity. The environmental impact of four different packaging materials was assessed using a comparative cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment. The materials evaluated included a cardboard package (CB), a cardboard package with a cellulose lid (CBC), a polypropylene (PP) as a control, and a punnet made from rice straw topped with polylactic acid (RPLA), a bio-based plastic. The evaluation considered all environmental impact categories, utilizing Sphera GaBi software and the CML 2016 method. Special attention was given to various end-of-life scenarios, determining energy resources and fossil abiotic depletions. The results indicate that RPLA is the most eco-friendly option, with the lowest carbon footprint and energy resources. CB has a larger carbon footprint but less overall impact than traditional incineration, while CBC has the highest impact during recycling, mainly due to marine ecotoxicity. PP has a relatively low impact on energy resources and fossil abiotic depletion compared to CB and CBC packaging materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Viktoria Mannheim & Ulvi Moor & Liina Laumets & Klára Tóthné Szita, 2025. "Evaluating the Energy Resources and Environmental Impacts for Blueberry Packaging Materials with a Focus on End-of-Life Scenarios," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-25, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:13:p:3232-:d:1683586
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Angela Koort & Ulvi Moor & Priit Põldma & Clive Kaiser & Marge Starast, 2018. "Comparison of Regular Atmospheric Storage versus Modified Atmospheric Packaging on Postharvest Quality of Organically Grown Lowbush and Half-Highbush Blueberries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Jose-Vicente Oliver-Villanueva & Bruno Armengot-Carbó & Edgar Lorenzo-Saéz & Victoria Lerma-Arce, 2025. "Sustainable Environmental Analysis of Wooden Boxes for Fruit and Vegetable Packaging and Transport in Comparison with Corrugated Cardboard Boxes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-24, January.
    3. Cristiana Peano & Vincenzo Girgenti & Claudio Baudino & Nicole Roberta Giuggioli, 2017. "Blueberry Supply Chain in Italy: Management, Innovation and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Judit Lovasné Avató & Viktoria Mannheim, 2022. "Life Cycle Assessment Model of a Catering Product: Comparing Environmental Impacts for Different End-of-Life Scenarios," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-20, July.
    5. Zsolt Buri & Csanád Sipos & Edit Szűcs & Domicián Máté, 2024. "Smart and Sustainable Energy Consumption: A Bibliometric Review and Visualization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-14, July.
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