Sustainable insulation materials for E-grocery shipments: A multi-criteria evaluation

Abstract

Due to the continuous growth of e-groceries, sustainable packaging solutions are needed to reduce the environmental impact of e-grocery shipments. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the operational and economic performance of six different insulation materials. A multi-criteria analysis was conducted to evaluate different aspects of the packaging solutions. Physical properties such as volume utilization and weight were examined, as well as the price attractiveness. Two online surveys with 1,314 respondents in total were performed to evaluate consumer acceptance. Finally, lab tests assessed the thermal insulation performance and the cushioning effect of the insulation materials tested. No single insulation material or solution stands out in all aspects of the multi-criteria analysis. Recycled paper flakes and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) perform best overall. rPET is lightweight, compact, cost-effective, and offers excellent insulation and cushioning properties. Yet, consumer acceptance is very low. Conversely, recycled paper is well-received by consumers, economically viable, and performs similarly well in insulation and cushioning, but is heavier and less space-efficient. This is one of the first studies comparing several different alternative insulation materials (i.e., recycled paper flakes, rPET, straw, hemp, sheep’s wool, recycled cotton) for transport packaging at the same time in a multidisciplinary manner.