Sustainable consumption and production: Modelling product carbon footprint of beverage merchandise using a supply chain input-process-output approach

The continuous increase in beverage consumption worldwide results in enormous energy consumption and carbon emission along the life cycle of beverage products. A novel input-process-output product carbon footprint (PCF) model is developed as a generic framework for products and services with complex operations along the supply chain. A PCF of a carbonated drink product is evaluated at each of the major stages in the product's life cycle with results compared to using GHG Protocol methodology. Results from cradle-to-grave analysis indicate retail and distribution has the largest emissions impact along the product life cycle. Retail distribution routing optimisation model is developed and retail vending equipment are analysed to explore opportunities for reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint. Future sustainable development studies on the PCF of same beverage merchandises produced in various countries and mitigation measures using dynamic routing distribution could be carried out.