Digitalization of transport packaging to report on international sustainability performance indicators

Abstract

The sustainability awareness of customers as well as the general sustainability requirements are increasing. Therefore, companies are interested in using new technologies to follow trends and remain competitive. But within the pharmaceutical and chemical industry different companies deal in a different way towards environmental changes. Especially the Pharma industry seems to be reluctant towards change and follow the motto “Never change a running system”. Nevertheless, a packaging manufacturer based in Switzerland collaborated with FHNW to find out, whether QR codes on transport packaging are suitable to generate and analyze data for a carbon footprint information system. The idea to use QR codes was generated by former students involved in prior research for the same company. This thesis paper aims to identify business requirements and solution objectives to implement a solution based on QR codes addressing the CO2 emission theme. The suitability of QR codes on transport packaging is evaluated by the application of a Design Science Research approach. Therefore, a potential solution with optional components is developed and demonstrated with an artefact. The artefact forms the proof of concept and is the basis to evaluate whether the idea is marketable enough to bring business benefits....