Analysis of industrial ecology, cradle-to-cradle principles, and an alternative packaging delivery system

This thesis reviews the industrial ecology concept of cradle-to-cradle ecology and conducts tests of a new recyclable shipping application, the Alternative Packaging Delivery System. This shipping application won an award from the Environmental Protection Agency for product innovation in new packaging. This thesis tested the new packaging versus a cardboard shipping box using the design criteria of three cradle-to-cradle categories: materials, system analysis, and economics.;This research found that the Alternative Packaging Delivery System passed in the materials and system analysis but not the economics. The findings show that this design solution would be a good packaging alternative when used in a facility that is geographically close, for instance an eco-park, or for a large company managing internal shipping programs. The return costs are too expensive for use in a nationwide online store application. This research contributes new data analysis using a streamline life cycle assessment model.