'Sustainable packaging logistics'. The link between sustainability and competitiveness in supply chains

Abstract

Packaging is one element that can support and promote improvements and innovationsin sustainable management of supply chains. This multifunctional vision has brought about theapproach "sustainable packaging logistics" (SPL), which refers to the integration of packaging design,logistics management and new product development. The main aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly,to characterise the main aspects associated with SPL as a preliminary step towards constructing aconceptual model that can be validated in a quantitative way. Secondly, to carry out an exploratorystudy in the Spanish toy manufacturing sector in order to identify whether SPL deployment promoteschanges and innovations in packaging that can lead to improved sustainability. The literature reviewwas conducted via content analysis, and the methodology used to carry out empirical analysis was anelectronic questionnaire dealing with aspects of SPL. The number of toy manufacturers participatingin the study was 70. The results analysis indicates that further development of the main aspects ofSPL actively contributes to better sustainable performance in almost all items considered in the study.The SPL approach is considered particularly innovative, because there is a scarcity of literature thatdeals jointly with packaging, logistics and sustainability from an empirical standpoint, rather thanjust the analysis of case studies.