Sustainability Evaluation of Product Packaging System with a Three-Stage Network Data Envelopment Analysis Methodology

• Main Authors: Yong Xie, Yafang Gao, Shihao Zhang, Hailong Bai, Zhenghao Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-01-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: packaging; sustainability; environmental efficiency; three-stage network DEA model; packaging sustainability indicator (PSI)
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/2/246

This study presents a method that is based on the three-stage network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate the sustainability of packaging systems for a product. This method facilitates the selection of better product packaging alternatives from an environmentally friendly point of view and it comprises the following four steps: (i) the definition of packaging sustainability indicator (PSI) based on environmental efficiency and impact indicator of three-stage in packaging life cycle, (ii) modeling a three-stage Network DEA model for a packaging system, (iii) computing PSI based on the DEA model, and (iv) result analysis. An empirical test has been progressed to prove the feasibility of the proposed method by selecting the three types of milk packaging systems. The results indicated that the PSI value of PrePack is the maximum and the Tetra Pak minimum. According to these results, the study provides an environmentally friendly evaluation method for product packaging systems, which is more intuitive than Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).