Question 1

Any supply chain design innovation that lowers transportation costs also tends to reduce

Accepted Answer

Lowering transportation costs typically involves optimizing routes, modes of transportation, and reducing fuel consumption. These optimizations also tend to reduce emissions, making it a favorable choice for environmentally conscious consumers and companies. However, it may not necessarily lead to a reduction in delivery time or consumer cost, nor impact market share directly.

Question 2

________ has always worked hard to design products that can be shipped flat to achieve high volume and weight density during transportation.As a result,the company not only lowers its transportation costs,it also reduces emissions and energy use.

Accepted Answer

The statement mentions the company's efforts to ship products flat to achieve high volume and weight density, thus reducing transportation costs, emissions, and energy use. This business model aligns with Ikea's well-known strategy of flat-pack furniture and home goods.

Question 3

Remanufacturing helps improve profits as long as

Accepted Answer

Remanufacturing can improve profits when there are two distinct demand segments: one for new products and one for remanufactured (or "old") products. This allows businesses to cater to different market needs and preferences, potentially increasing overall sales and profits.

Question 4

Walmart implemented a web-based scorecard that evaluated the packaging of each product along nine metrics which included

Accepted Answer

Both cube utilization and recycled content are important factors in evaluating the sustainability of packaging. Cube utilization refers to how efficiently the product is packed in terms of the space it occupies during transportation and storage. Using less space means less fuel is needed to transport the product, reducing the carbon footprint. On the other hand, recycled content is important because it reduces waste and promotes a circular economy where materials are reused instead of discarded. Therefore, evaluating these two metrics is crucial in promoting sustainable packaging practices.

Question 5

________ has reduced the energy consumption of a location by 25 to 30 percent from their 2005 benchmark.

Accepted Answer

Walmart has made significant efforts to reduce their energy consumption through various initiatives such as retrofitting stores with LED lighting, implementing energy management systems, and investing in renewable energy sources. As a result, they have achieved a 25 to 30 percent reduction in energy consumption from their 2005 baseline.

Question 6

The polluter pays principle dictates that

Accepted Answer

The polluter pays principle states that those who cause pollution should bear the cost of mitigating its harmful effects. This principle holds that businesses or individuals who produce pollution should be financially responsible for cleaning up the pollution or paying for any damage it causes. Therefore, the correct answer is B - the entity causing the pollution must bear the cost to society.

Question 7

What type of inventory is one of the most damaging from a sustainability perspective?

Accepted Answer

Landfill inventory refers to waste materials that have been discarded and are not being reused or recycled. This type of inventory is particularly damaging from a sustainability perspective because it represents the end of the product lifecycle where materials are not being recovered or repurposed, leading to environmental pollution and the wasteful use of resources.

Question 8

The major deterrent to remanufacturing is

Accepted Answer

The answer of The major deterrent to remanufacturing is
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Question 9

________ worked with their equipment supplier,Siemens VAI,to create a new production process that cut costs and emissions by using local iron ore that was of lower quality but cheaper.

Accepted Answer

The use of Siemens VAI equipment and the focus on reducing costs and emissions are indicative of a steel manufacturing company, which corresponds with the POSCO company. Additionally, POSCO is known for using advanced technology and innovation in its production processes.

Question 10

McDonough and Braungart (2002)discuss the importance of ________ design if we are to truly limit the landfill inventory generated by a supply chain.

Accepted Answer

Cradle-to-cradle design emphasizes the importance of product redesign and reimagining of the supply chain, in which waste is not simply reduced but completely eliminated through a closed-loop, circular system. This ensures that materials are constantly reused and repurposed in perpetuity, resulting in a truly sustainable supply chain.

Question 11

________ continues to be one of the biggest challenges to improved supply chain sustainability.

Accepted Answer

Good information and data collection is critical to understanding and addressing supply chain sustainability issues, such as waste reduction, water consumption, and packaging reduction. Without accurate and complete information, it is difficult to identify areas for improvement and track progress towards sustainability goals.

Question 12

The goal of every supply chain should be to track its

Accepted Answer

The answer of The goal of every supply chain should...

Question 13

The Pay as You Throw (PAYT)model is designed to

Accepted Answer

The Pay as You Throw (PAYT) model is designed to increase recycling. It is a system where residents are charged based on the amount of waste they produce. This encourages people to recycle more and produce less waste, leading to a reduction in overall waste generation.

Question 14

The presence of lead paint in some of its most popular toys forced ________ to recall hundreds of thousands of toys sold between April and July of 2007.

Accepted Answer

Mattel was forced to recall hundreds of thousands of toys sold between April and July of 2007 due to the presence of lead paint.

Question 15

________ has worked hard to reuse heat energy from boilers in its production process and reduce its total water footprint.

Accepted Answer

Coca-Cola has implemented various measures to reduce its water usage, including reusing heat energy from boilers in its production process.

Question 16

Which of these statements is best?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these statements is best?
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Question 17

________ can be used to assess the environmental impacts associated with a product's life from cradle to grave.

Accepted Answer

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a method used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product or process throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. It takes into consideration all stages including production, transportation, and use, as well as the impact of the product’s end-of-life. CRM (Customer Relationship Management), SRM (Supplier Relationship Management), and MRP (Material Requirements Planning) are not related to environmental impact assessment.

Question 18

This company has not hit its targets for the use of renewable energy because these sources have higher costs compared to other sources of energy.In general,the public has not been willing to pay for the added costs.

Accepted Answer

Walmart has faced challenges in meeting their renewable energy targets due to the higher costs associated with these sources of energy. The company has committed to sourcing 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025, but has struggled to meet this goal. While Walmart has made some progress in investing in renewable energy, the higher costs have been a challenge for the company.

Question 19

These two companies have also set aggressive targets for their suppliers to improve overall supply chain sustainability.

Accepted Answer

Both Walmart and IKEA have set ambitious targets for their suppliers to improve sustainability in their supply chains. For example, Walmart has a goal to reduce one gigaton of greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain by 2030, while IKEA aims for 100% renewable energy in its supply chain by 2030.

Question 20

The sustainability damage from landfill additives comes in which form?

Accepted Answer

Landfill additives often break down organic matter and release methane gas, which is a potent greenhouse gas. This results in the loss of potential energy that could be harnessed from the methane gas. Additionally, these additives may also prevent the biodegradation of materials, leading to the loss of valuable resources that could otherwise be recycled or reused. Therefore, the sustainability damage from landfill additives comes in the form of both potential energy and materials lost.

Quiz 17: Sustainability and the Supply Chain