Exergy analysis: A tool to study the sustainability of food supply chains

Apaiah, Radhika K.; Linnemann, A.R.; Kooi, Hedzer J. van der

doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2005.04.006

Cited by 98 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The method focuses on the demand of reliable sustainability-oriented decision-making processes in complex value chains identifying high-priority areas ("hot spots") for effective measures in companies (Liedtke et al, 2010). For the remaining methods, MEFA (Sanyé et al, 2012), MEA (Jones, 2002), hybrid-LCA (Cellura et al, 2012) and exergy analysis (Apaiah et al, 2006), all methods come with unique strengths and characteristics. Overall, we observe that there is a lack of empirical and comparative research that could further support the decision to use one method over another.…”

Section: Methods Applied To Assess Resource Usage and Its Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resource-efficient supply chains: a research framework, literature review and research agenda

Matopoulos

Barros

Vorst

2015

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal

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If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation.*Related content and download information correct at time of download. J.G.A.J. (Jack) van der VorstOperations Research and Logistics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands Abstract Purpose -The study aims to define a research agenda for creating resource-efficient supply chains (RESCs) by identifying and analysing their key characteristics as well as future research opportunities. Design/methodology/approach -We follow a systematic review method to analyse the literature and to understand RESC, taking a substantive theory approach. Our approach is grounded in a specific domain, the agri-food sector, because it is an intensive user of an extensive range of resources.Findings -The review shows that works of literature has looked at the use of resources primarily from the environmental impact perspective. There is a need to explore whether or not and how logistics/supply chain decisions will affect the overall configuration of future food supply chains in an era of resource scarcity and depletion and what the trade-offs will be.Research limitations/implications -The paper proposes an agenda for future research in the area of RESC. The framework proposed along with the key characteristics identified for RESC can be applied to other sectors. Practical implications -Our research should facilitate further understanding of the implications and trade-offs of supply chain decisions taken on the use of resources by supply chain managers. Originality/value -The paper explores the interaction between supply chains and natural resources and defines the key characteristics of RESC.

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Section: Methods Applied To Assess Resource Usage and Its Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resource-efficient supply chains: a research framework, literature review and research agenda

Matopoulos

Barros

Vorst

2015

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal

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“…In most research projects using exergy analysis, the output is valued in net exergy content (Apaiah et al, 2006;Chen et al, 2009;Hepbasli, 2008;Kaushik et al, 2011;Talens Peiró et al, 2010;Zhu et al, 2005). According to the economic interpretation of exergy content, this approach views both inputs and outputs from an ecocentric point of view.…”

Section: Output Valuationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exergy is being applied as a useful metric in environmental impact assessments (Banerjee and Tierney, 2011;Chen et al, 2009;Hau and Bakshi, 2003;Hepbasli, 2008;Kirova-Yordanova, 2010;Yi et al, 2004). It can account for materials and energy flows alike and can be used for the analysis of complex production pathways (Apaiah et al, 2006;Bakshi, 2000;Huang et al, 2007;Zhang and Chen, 2010). However, the integration of exergy-based environmental impact measures is not straightforward, due to both technical limitations and theoretical limitations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advantages and limitations of exergy indicators to assess sustainability of bioenergy and biobased materials

Maes

Passel

2014

Environmental Impact Assessment Review

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Innovative bioenergy projects show a growing diversity in biomass pathways, transformation technologies and end-products, leading to complex new processes. Existing energy-based indicators are not designed to include multiple impacts and are too constrained to assess the sustainability of these processes. Alternatively, indicators based on exergy, a measure of "qualitative energy", could allow a more holistic view. Exergy is increasingly applied in analyses of both technical and biological processes. But sustainability assessments including exergy calculations, are not very common and are not generally applicable to all types of impact. Hence it is important to frame the use of exergy for inclusion in a sustainability assessment. This paper reviews the potentials and the limitations of exergy calculations, and presents solutions for coherent aggregation with other metrics. The resulting approach is illustrated in a case study. Within the context of sustainability assessment of bioenergy, exergy is a suitable metric for the impacts that require an ecocentric interpretation, and it allows aggregation on a physical basis. The use of exergy is limited to a measurement of material and energy exchanges with the sun, biosphere and lithosphere. Exchanges involving services or human choices are to be measured in different metrics. This combination provides a more inclusive and objective sustainability assessment, especially compared to standard energy-or carbon-based indicators. Future applications of this approach in different situations are required to clarify the potential of exergy-based indicators in a sustainability context.

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“…These efforts have resulted in evaluation methods like the Exergetic Lyfe Cycle Assessment (ELCA) (Cornelissen & Hirs, 2002) and the Lyfe Cycle Exergy Analysis (LCEA) (Gong & Wall, 2001). These methods have been employed in different areas like electricity production (Rosen & Dincer, 2003), supply chains (Apaiah et al, 2006), and IT companies (Lettieri et al, 2009). …”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Business and Environment Performance Evaluation in Supply Chains: A Formal Model-Driven Approach

Alves¹,

Maciel²,

Lima³

et al. 2011

Supply Chain Management - Applications and Simulations

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Exergy analysis: A tool to study the sustainability of food supply chains

Cited by 98 publications

References 21 publications

Resource-efficient supply chains: a research framework, literature review and research agenda

Resource-efficient supply chains: a research framework, literature review and research agenda

Advantages and limitations of exergy indicators to assess sustainability of bioenergy and biobased materials

Business and Environment Performance Evaluation in Supply Chains: A Formal Model-Driven Approach

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