Distributing wine globally: financial and environmental trade-offs
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
ISSN: 0960-0035
Article publication date: 5 June 2017
Abstract
Purpose
Given that currently around ten billion litres of wine are transported long distances to overseas consumers per year, the purpose of this paper is to provide a foundation for understanding the trade-offs between cost, water usage and carbon emissions in decisions about the location of wine bottling plants in a global supply chain.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a case-based analytical modelling study and employs actual data from one of Australia’s major wine companies. A descriptive analytical model is developed for assessing wine supply chain scenarios using three indicators of economic and environmental impacts – supply chain cost, risk-weighted water usage and carbon emissions.
Findings
The research highlights trade-offs required when considering optimal supply chain design, and finds possibilities for reshaping a global wine supply chain in order to improve the selected economic and environmental impacts.
Originality/value
The originality of this paper lies in its analytical focus on examining the interplay between supply chain cost, risk-weighted water usage and carbon emissions in a global supply chain, which has not previously been addressed.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2015 Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Citation
Varsei, M., Christ, K. and Burritt, R. (2017), "Distributing wine globally: financial and environmental trade-offs", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 47 No. 5, pp. 410-428. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-01-2016-0012
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited