a term that the authors use to designate containers fitting with novel e-commerce requirements as part of omnichannel settings. Instead of adapting existing brick-and-mortar packaging to these novel challenges that mostly results in unsatisfying solutions, we prefer to design e-packaging by adopting a more abstract level of reasoning, considering functional analysis principles. Breaking new grounds means emancipation from any premature constraint in terms of packaging material and/ or shape and results in optimized fulfilment of packaging functions, LFP, and others.
Published in Chapter:
Packaging Trends in International Transportation and Logistics
Bernd Philipp (ESCE Grande Ecole de Commerce, France & INSEEC Business School, France), François Fulconis (Avignon University, France), and Thomas Zeroual (ESCE Grande Ecole de Commerce, France & INSEEC Business School, France)
Copyright: © 2020
|Pages: 20
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-1397-2.ch004
Abstract
Traditionally, the importance of packaging for international supply chains is most often underestimated. This is surprising for such a complex phenomenon, situated at the interface of different functions (logistics, marketing...), different decision levels (operational, tactical, strategic), and different logistics flows (physical and informational). This chapter questions the traditional design and typology of packaging used within international supply chains in the light of two main drivers: (1) its circular/closed-loop requirements and related performance notion and (2) omnichannel trends, including e-commerce, and new customer delivery services. Mobilizing the spanning concept of “logistics functions of packaging” (LFP), this chapter proposes a conceptual framework enabling to trigger adequate novel packaging solutions matching these new expectations. Recent business cases occurring within international supply chains illustrate and deepen our reflection.