Framework of Packaging Logistics activities in retail supply chains

The concept of packaging logistics focuses on the synergies achieved by integrating logistics and packaging systems with the potential of increased supply chain efficiency and effectiveness, through the improvement of packaging and logistics related activities. The retail supply chain is a major consumer of different types of packaging. In Sweden alone, retailers handle approximately 1000 million retail packs each year. Such numbers indicate that significant savings might be possible by improving packaging logistics in the retail supply chain. Four case studies involving retail supply chains were conducted to map and describe the packaging logistics processes within these retail supply chains. The case studies were used as a basis to identify and understand value-added packaging logistics activities. This paper presents a framework that describes the packaging logistics activities of the retail supply chain. The interface between the packaging and logistics systems is described and analysed. The paper also demonstrates how mapping the packaging logistics processes can facilitate an increased awareness of value adding activities and thus help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of retail supply chains.