ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF PALLETS USING LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS AND MULTI-OBJECTIVE DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING
Open Access
- Author:
- Anil Philip, Sebastian K
- Graduate Program:
- Industrial Engineering
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- None
- Committee Members:
- Gul Kremer, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Gul Kremer, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Charles David Ray Sr., Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- LCA
Life Cycle Analysis
Pallets
Dynamic Programming
Environmental Analysis
Multi Objective Dynamic Programming - Abstract:
- Packaging materials such as pallets form a critical component of the shipping and logistics industry. Pallets may be made of wood, plastic or corrugated paper. There are over 2 billion pallets currently in circulation within the United States, with a majority of it being wood (NWPCA, 2010). The market share of plastic pallets is on the rise. Thus the carbon footprint produced by the pallets is a critical factor. Plastic incurs larger carbon footprint owing to its production methods and raw materials used. Wooden pallets are however prone to pest infestation and require to be treated. Heat treatment and Methyl Bromide fumigation are the two currently approved treating methods used to kill pests in wooden packaging materials (WPM’s). With rise in global trade, the use of these treatment methods has also increased. Methyl Bromide is a Class I ozone-depleting substance and affects the atmosphere adversely. Heat treatment requires additional energy and generates a significantly large amount of carbon footprint during the process. The proposed research framework involves the investigation and evaluation of the environmental burdens incurred using a consequential LCA that compares each of the life cycle stages of a wooden and a plastic pallet. Significant emphasis is placed in comparing heat treatment, methyl bromide fumigation and radio frequency (RF) heating to determine the most effective, environmentally clean and economically viable treatment option. The objectives of this research are to demonstrate that dielectric heating using RF technology is equally, if not more, effective for killing pests in wood and environmentally superior to currently available treatments. The LCA study quantifies the resource consumptions, total energy requirements, solid wastes, and selected atmospheric emissions resulting from the production, reuse, repair, recycling, and disposal of 48inch x 40inch pallets used in the grocery industry. Data collected from various pallet manufacturing companies and treatment companies is analyzed using Sima Pro v 7.1 LCA software used specifically for life cycle assessment studies The research framework combines LCA with a multi objective dynamic programming methodology to determine optimum pallet types at various stages of the product life cycle. The two objectives here are minimization of carbon footprint generated and minimization of costs incurred throughout the pallet life cycle. Non preemptive and preemptive goal programming methods are used to solve the multi objective dynamic programming model. By combining LCA and dynamic programming, results are obtained to give the most preferable pallet type and treatment option that incurs the least carbon footprint and costs, throughout each life cycle stage.