Implementation of CCT based framework to reduce carbon footprint of beef supply chain

integrated framework to mitigate the carbon footprint of beef supply chain.

5.4 Implementation of CCT based framework to reduce carbon footprint of beef supply chain

In this section, the step by step execution of the mechanism mentioned in section 5.2 is provided. It comprises of a beef products retailer having multiple stores around the nation. These products are sourced from cattle raised in various farms. An abattoir and processor enterprise having numerous branches does the butchering and boning of these cattle. The

117 final processed beef products are then transported to retailer using logistics to be sold to customers. Due to pressure from government legislation, the retailer wants to mitigate the carbon footprint of its supply chain. It could not be accomplished by just making the activities of retailer stores green. Hence, it approaches all stakeholders of beef supply chain to make the entire supply chain green. During the discussion of retailer’s staff with beef farmers, it was revealed that farmers are deficient in financial and technical resources to address it. There are numerous carbon calculators in the market with distinct benefits and limitations. The farmers were finding it challenging to select and employ an optimum calculator for their businesses. Other stakeholders also mentioned similar issues in addressing their carbon footprint. The logistics team mentioned that they are taking active measures to make their operations greener such as taking shortest possible route, etc. Nonetheless, they would not be enough to accomplish the eco-friendly supply chain target. It was also revealed that lack of vertical coordination in supply chain is also contributing to considerable amount of carbon footprint, which could be avoided. Hence, the retailers concluded the need of a framework to assist all segments of beef supply chain for reducing carbon emissions and sharing their carbon emission results within the supply chain. The retailer has opted for the CCT infrastructure to accomplish this aim within minimal financial resources. The private cloud would map all segments of beef supply chain. Thereafter, an efficient, accurate and convenient to use carbon calculator would be selected by retailer for all stakeholders and uploaded on private cloud. Every segment of beef supply chain has access to it by internet and computing infrastructure in the form of SaaS. All stakeholders of beef supply chain would be provided user manuals and relevant training regarding operating CCT framework. The CCT framework comprises of carbon footprint calculator and feedback to address carbon emission of each segment of supply chain. SaaS at the premises of beef farms is depicted in Figure 5.5.

118 Figure 5.5 CCT interface at beef farms.

Farmers would utilise internet and basic computing infrastructure to access CCT. A window will open as depicted in Figure 5.5 asking the relevant information for generating carbon footprint results. When the farmer would enter this information, a new window would open having carbon footprint results and suggestive measures to address it. This process is depicted in Figure 5.6.

119 The carbon calculator processes the information entered by farmers and gives results in this case as 16 Kg CO2 eq. A list of suggestive measure to mitigate this is also being generated. For instance, farmers would be given guidance about the breed of cattle and their feed, which will generate minimal carbon footprint. It also reveals how much reduction (2 kg CO2 eq.) could be accomplished in the current carbon footprint by following these suggestive measures. The farmers will do the appropriate decision making and change their farming practices as per the prescribed suggestions. Then, they will measure their carbon emissions again by using the calculator. The data fed by farmers and the carbon footprint results would be visible to every segment of supply chain by private cloud. This information could be utilised by remaining segments of supply chain to minimise their carbon emission by addressing the inter-dependent factors. For instance, logistics would be able to diagnose if any delay or incompetence at their end is contributing to avoidable carbon footprint at beef farms. They will liaise with beef farmers and mitigate that problem. The logistics firms would also employ CCT interface and a separate window would pop up. They will feed the required information and get their carbon emission results along with suggestive measures to mitigate it. For instance, they would be given guidance to use eco-friendly fuels and modes of transport. They will follow these guidelines and then measure their carbon emissions again. The information fed by logistics and the results generated would be accessible to every stakeholder in the supply chain. It will create novel prospects for all stakeholders to assist logistics in minimising their carbon emissions by working on inter dependent factors. For instance, logistics will obtain the necessary inputs from farmers such as number of animals, address of beef farms, etc. using private cloud. Other information would also be retrieved beforehand like gender, weight of cattle in order to prepare the logistics vehicle to provide ample space allowance and abide by other government legislation. These processes would boost the coordination of logistics with rest of the supply chain. The calculator would guide the logistics firms in terms of optimum route to reach the destination within the permissible limits of regulation in a carbon efficient manner. As the carbon footprint results of every stakeholder are visible to each other, a logistics firm could learn from the good practices of other logistics firms to make their operations eco-friendly. The various wings of abattoir and processor firm would feed their carbon footprint related information into calculator and get the results along with suggestive measures. They would also implement these suggestions to reduce their emissions. Retailer stores at diverse locations would employ the CCT interface and feed the required information and obtain the carbon

120 footprint results along with suggestive measures. For instance, they would be asked to utilise renewable energy instead of those derived from fossil fuels. Suggestions would be given to learn from the good practices of other stores in terms of product handling and efficient stacking and shelving procedures. It will stress on the deployment of innovative technologies for demand forecasting. The retailer stores would follow these suggestive measures to make their operations greener. The proposed CCT based framework would assist retailer’s stores to work on their interdependent factors leading to unnecessary carbon footprint.

The CCT framework developed by retailer would assist all stakeholders of beef supply chain in a cost-effective manner. It is extremely advantageous to SMEs of beef industry as they are not able to afford carbon calculators. The optimum, convenient to operate carbon calculators are made accessible to all segments of supply chain as minimal expenses. This integrated approach would assist in reducing the carbon footprint of whole beef supply chain.

This section demonstrates how cloud computing technology could assist all stakeholders of beef supply chain including farmers in measuring their carbon footprint in a convenient and cost effective way.

In order to meet the UK government target to reduce carbon emission by 80% in 2050 from 1990 levels, all stakeholders of beef supply chains have to contribute in reducing their carbon emissions. The farmers are not motivated to actively take measures for reducing emission at their farms. There is need of a mechanism (post CCT framework) to raise pressure on them to adopt sustainable practices. An eco-friendly supplier selection framework is proposed for abattoir and processor to incorporate carbon footprint in their cattle supplier selection process along with other conventional attributes (price, quality, etc.). These mechanisms have been implemented in manufacturing industries. However, their application in the domain of food industries is scarce. The proposed mechanism will utilise the same carbon calculator as described in previous sections of this chapter to calculate the carbon footprint at farm end. The captured information of carbon footprint from farm end via CCT framework would be utilised along with other conventional attributes of cattle for low carbon supplier selection of beef cattle. The details of this mechanism are described in upcoming sections.

121