WM9QJ-15 Sustainable Supply Chain Management and the Circular Economy Assignment Brief 2025 | UoW

WM9QJ-15 Assignment Brief and Front Sheet PGT

WM9QJ-15 Assignment Brief

Life Cycle Assessment Reflection

In this report, you are required to analyse and discuss the results of the following LCA exercise run in-class, which included the following supply chain stages and involved the following three transhipment scenarios of transporting apples from Kent to Edinburgh.

• Cultivation
• Harvesting
• Storage and Packaging
• Transport*
• D.C. Operations
• Waste management

*The three transhipment scenarios transport stage) examined in class were:

• Baseline scenario: Apples are transported directly from a large apple orchard in Kent to a supermarket in Edinburgh. The entire journey is completed using road transportation.
• Scenario 1: Apples are transported from the large apple orchard in Kent to a single distribution centre owned by the supermarket and located on the outskirts of Liverpool before being forwarded to the supermarket in Edinburgh. Both segments of the trip are completed using road transport.
• Scenario 2: Apples are transported from the large apple orchard in Kent and split equally between two intermediate distribution centres; one being owned by the supermarket and located in the outskirts of Liverpool, and the other being owned by the 3PL and located in the outskirts of Sheffield, before being forwarded to the supermarket in Edinburgh. Each segment of the journey is completed using road transport.

For this assessment, you are required to produce a 1,200-word reflective report comparing the LCA results involving transhipment scenarios 1 and 2.

WM9QJ-15 Questions:

1. Briefly explain the concept of Life Cycle Assessment, using the example of apples transported from an orchard in Kent to a distribution centre in Edinburgh. [250 words] 20 marks

2. How do the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Scenario 1 and the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Scenario 2 compare in terms of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cost-effectiveness? [600 words] 50 marks

3. Based on your in-class Life Cycle Analysis for the given case study, which transhipment scenario (Scenario 1 or Scenario 2) would you recommend to achieve the lowest Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and costs? Provide a detailed explanation of the underlying reasons for this outcome [350 words]    30 marks

Total 100 Marks

Additional Guidance:

Question 1 [20 marks]:

• Your explanation should cover the key Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) stages from the production of the apples in Kent and transported to their transportation, and management at the supermarket in Edinburgh.
• Your analysis should highlight the environmental and economic impacts related with the above supply chain stages of the apples.

This question should be answered within 250 words with a 10% +/- allowance. The question is awarded 20 marks and covers Learning Outcome 2.

Question 2 [50 marks]:

• The analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions should consider the emissions during the cultivation stage (e.g. pesticides and machinery used for the cultivation of apples), the harvesting stage (e.g. the emissions from fuel consumption by harvesting equipment), the emissions for storing and packaging apples, the emissions from transporting apples from the orchard in Kent to the supermarket in Edinburg via the distribution centre(s) under transshipment scenarios 1 and 2, the emissions from operating the distribution centre(s), and the emissions from waste disposal and recycling processes.
• The analysis of the costs should consider the costs during the cultivation, harvesting, storage and packaging, transport (under transhipment scenarios 1 and 2), the operation of the distribution centre(s) in each scenario, and the costs of disposal and recycling of packaging materials and spoiled apples.
• The required numerical information will be provided for the calculation of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and costs during the in-class activity.

This question should be answered within 600 words with a 10% +/- allowance. The question is awarded 50 marks and covers Learning Outcome 3.

Question 3 [30 marks]:

• Your analysis should be based on the specific data from the Life Cycle Analysis calculations that you performed during the in-class exercise. These include numerical values for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and costs at each stage of the given supply chain.
• Your analysis must consider all given stages of the supply chain of apples.
• You can use graphs and tables to visually represent the differences in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and costs between Scenarios 1 and 2.
• In your discussion, highlight the key factors that contribute to the differences in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and costs.
• Discuss any trade-offs between transport, environmental and economic performance. For example, a scenario with lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions might have higher costs, and vice versa.
• Provide evidence-based reasoning for your recommendation. You must explain why one scenario is preferable over the other based on your LCA results.
• Briefly reflect on any limitations of your analysis.

This question should be answered within 350 words with a 10% +/- allowance. The question is awarded 30 marks and covers Learning Outcomes 2 and 3.

Presentation/References

• Organise your report, use headings, sections and page numbers, and provide relevant evidence to support your findings.
• Ensure that your report includes a list of references at the end. All in-text citations and references should follow the University’s referencing guidelines.
• To cite the interviewee, use this referencing style:
  O’Brien, J. (2025, May 10). Building Towards a Net Zero Future: Insights from Company’s X Construction Supply Chain". [University of Warwick].

Further Guidance:

• There is no need to include an introduction and a conclusion section. Address directly the three questions.
• Your report may include a table of contents, a list of figures, a list of tables, etc. These elements won’t be counted toward the word limit.
• You can include any supplemental information, e.g. some background information about the selected company, LCA calculations, diagrams and charts, in the Appendices at the end of your report.
• Avoid lengthy Appendices, as markers may not read them thoroughly or they may not read them at all if they are too long. Only include very important information that may enhance the reader’s understanding without disrupting the main text.
• Please be aware that the answers included in the Appendices will not be awarded any marks.

Module Learning Outcomes

ILO1: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles of sustainable development and the prerequisites of major international agreements and policy initiatives for the development of sustainable supply chains.

ILO2: Identify and apply sustainable principles on the procurement, manufacturing and storage practices for products and materials.
ILO3: Strategically select and apply appropriate carbon auditing tools for life-cycle and scenario analyses considering the use of different fuels, modes and vehicle technologies, and critically assess the resulting environmental and social implications.

ILO4: Critically evaluate the practical application of the most appropriate technological and engineering methods to recover energy and value from waste in line with the circular economy principles.

ILO5: Formulate and critically assess the performance of practical city logistics solutions for the industry and the society.