LCA Food 2012 in Saint Malo, France! - Manifestations et colloques ...

GROUP 1, SESSION A: ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS 8 th Int. Conference on LCA in the
Agri-Food Sector, 1-4 Oct 2012
37. Distribution of Norwegian fresh fish fillets from an environmental
and economic point of view
Mie Vold * , Ole Jørgen Hanssen, Erik Svanes
Ostfold Resarch, Fredrikstad, Norway, Corresponding author. E-mail: mie@ostfoldforskning.no
Optimisation towards more sustainable distribution solutions for fish fillets are important topics in Norway.
Several research projects have shown that it is important to consider the packaging system from a holistic
point of view, where the whole value chain is included. More material intensive packaging systems might be
more sustainable if this leads to less loss of product through the value chain. It is also important to consider
how the effectiveness of packaging systems can be improved, through maximising the volume of product in
relation to total pallet volume.
Sea food is one of the most important export products from Norway. During the past years relatively more
fish have been distributed as filets, and it is a long term strategy to distribute as much as possible as filets.
Packaging research in Norway has thus been focused on development of new solutions for sea food distribution.
Through common projects financed by the Norwegian Research Council, new packaging solutions have
been developed, tested and optimised. Important drivers for innovation have been to develop solutions that
are less voluminous, less material intensive, more effective in the packing process, utilise transport capacity
better and are easier to recycle after use and still preserve high quality and low product loss. In parallel, the
traditional packaging solutions have also been improved, to meet competition from new solutions. For fresh
products, time to market is a critical factor in distribution, and new solutions have also been developed to
increase the shelf life of fresh seafood products.
This presentation will focus on experiences from industrial case studies of packaging systems and distribution
of fish filets, with main focus on changes from conventional packing with ice to super freezing without
ice and with new fibre based packaging. The presentation includes life cycle data for processes and handling,
production of packaging materials, impacts on transport, converting to final packaging solutions and
treatment of packaging waste resources (material, economic and energy data)
References
Rubach, S. & Hanssen, O.J. 2002. Nordic methods for documentation of packaging optimisation. Proposal
for Nordic method – Part B. Benchmarking system, Østfoldforskning.
Hanssen, O.J. 1997. Sustainable product management. Dr.techn. thesis, Norwegian University of Science
and Technology, Trondheim
Nyland, C.A., Rubach, S., Hanssen, O.J., 2006. Value Chain Analysis of Different Types of Distribution
Packaging For Fresh Fish Fillets, Proceedings IAPRE Conference, Tokyo Oct. 2006.
Svanes E., Vold M. and Hanssen O.J., 2011. Environmental assessment of cod (Gadus morhua) from autoline
fisheries. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 16: 611-624.
Svanes E., Vold M., Møller H., Kvalvåg Pettersen M, Larsen H. and Hanssen OJ, 2010. Sustainable Packaging
Design: a holistic methodology for packaging design. Packaging Technology and Science.
Vold M, Hanssen O.J., Svanes E., 2006. Value Chain Analysis of Different Types of Distribution Packaging
of Fresh Fish Fillets, IAPRI conference,
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