The implementation of Circular Business Models in the German food packaging industry
- In the light of incremental environmental degradation, social awareness and resource depletion along with high and volatile resource prices, food packaging manufacturers in Germany increasingly perceive pressure towards the implementation of circular business models. However, there does not exist any data neither about the current deployment of circular business models nor about the active efforts dedicated by manufacturers in the German food packaging industry while in many cases there is lacking expertise of how to implement circular business models. This thesis is going to close this gap by conducting a systematic observation of 41 food packaging manufacturers’ product portfolio and company policy in order to identify the current state of deployment and active efforts dedicated to the implementation. Moreover, the most applicable measures will be analysed in order to capture the level of circularity in the focal industry, while providing a step-by-step guidance of how to implement circular business models. There was found that the German food packaging industry is characterised by an open-loop approach since manufacturers focus on circular inputs but neglect the reuse and recycling of packaging materials. Besides, there could be identified six highly applicable metrics, which measure a range of different fundamental aspects of the circular economy. Finally, there was found that the process of implementing circular business models can be structured into four phases, whereas a set of key enablers permits food packaging manufacturers to overcome certain barriers and facilitates the implementation of circular business models. The conclusion was drawn that food packaging manufacturers in Germany still show noticeable potential for enhancement in order to increase circularity, especially by launching circular product designs, the reuse of certain types of food packaging and implementing a more holistic approach of circular business models.
Author: | Julian Ruoff |
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URN: | https://urn:nbn:de:bsz:fn1-opus4-66256 |
Advisor: | Frank Kramer |
Document Type: | Bachelor Thesis |
Language: | English |
Year of Completion: | 2020 |
Granting Institution: | Hochschule Furtwangen |
Date of final exam: | 2020/07/13 |
Release Date: | 2020/09/01 |
Tag: | Circular business models; Circular economy; Food packaging industry; Germany |
Page Number: | 84 |
Degree Program: | IBW - Internationale Betriebswirtschaft |
Functional area: | Production, Operations and Supply Chain Management |
Open-Access-Status: | Open Access |
Licence (German): | Urheberrechtlich geschützt |