Examensarbeten för masterexamen
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- PostImproving Transportation Efficiency: Cost Comparison Between Single Trailer and High- Capacity Transport in Container Road Freight(2024) Zhu, Yixue; Li, Junyang; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Cardenas Barbosa, Ivan Dario; Von Corswant, FredrikThis thesis examines the use of High-Capacity Transport (HCT) vehicles in container logistics, as well as the use of dry ports and last mile efficiency. The study focuses on comparing single and double trailer configurations, examining their respective advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Meanwhile dry ports, as key hubs for relieving congestion in seaports and streamlining the distribution process, focus on specific situations suitable for implementation. The thesis assesses the economic viability of HCT vehicles and dry ports in transport scenarios through a combination of literature review, case studies, and data analysis. The results of the study show that the combination of HCT vehicles and strategically located dry ports can significantly reduce transport costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and support more sustainable logistics operations. The study provides insights into optimizing container transport for long-haul and last-mile movements, contributing to the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly freight transport solutions.
- PostBiodiversity at Volvo Group Real Estate Identification of a suitable biodiversity framework and action plan for enhanced biodiversity(2024) Brunke, Julia; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Molander, Sverker; Johansson, Henrik; Bengtsson, CeciliaThis master’s thesis was done by request of Volvo Group Real Estate (VGRE) in Gothenburg, Sweden. The aim of this master’s thesis was to decide upon a framework for biodiversity assessment and to develop an action plan for biodiversity for VGRE. A literature study in which criteria was found in order to identify a suitable biodiversity assessment framework was conducted. In addition, a field study, during which an assessment of VGRE:s approach to biodiversity was made. The field study took place at the VGRE site in Tuve, Sweden. The research questions in this master’s thesis gained insight into the data needed when performing a biodiversity assessment and which framework for biodiversity assessment that is most suitable for VGRE. They also investigated what the direct drivers of biodiversity loss that VGRE:s site in Tuve contributes to, how VGRE can reduce their negative impact on biodiversity at their site in Tuve and what actions that can be put in place in order to enhance and/or restore biodiversity at the site. During the master’s thesis it was found that a recurring issue for businesses and industries is that there are many variables and corresponding complications when performing biodiversity assessments. The frameworks for biodiversity assessments, developed by various organisations (both governing and independent), are more complicated than they make light of. There is a certain level of knowledge and expertise needed to implement and/or supplement the frameworks used for biodiversity assessments. The literature and field study was iterative and the selected framework was Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). In addition, the framework should be able to handle time and resource constraints that may appear while leaving space for the inclusion of tools for continuous reassessment and evaluation. Therefore, in addition to BNG the company will need to adhere to the Mitigation Hierarchy. It was also suggested that the company will use the State, Pressure and Result (SPR) framework to find suitable indicators to monitor their efforts in a quantifiable way. The criteria that the selected framework needed to adhere to was decided upon during both the literature study and the field study. The action plan was divided into two parts, one for areas that are to be exploited and one for areas that are already exploited. In addition, good principles, are included as guidelines for the company to follow.
- PostDesign of type IV compressed gas hydrogen tanks made of carbon fiber composites for sustainability and circularity(2024) Mohan Irudayaraj, Antony Alfred; Ngo, Alfred; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Svanström, Magdalena; Johansson, Monica; Svanström, MagdalenaThe transition to sustainable energy sources has highlighted the potential of fuel cell electric vehicles and the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel alternative. Central to the deployment of hydrogen-powered vehicles is the development of efficient and reliable hydrogen storage solutions. This project focuses on the design of Type IV compressed gas hydrogen tanks made of composite materials, aiming to enhance sustainability and circularity. The Type IV tanks being made of carbon fiber as the main component constitutes a high percentage of carbon dioxide footprint in the vehicle, since it is high energy intensive to produce and traditionally use petroleum based products as a primary raw material. Reducing the carbon dioxide footprint from this product would have a huge impact in the whole vehicle. This study investigates approaches to reduce the usage of carbon fiber and virgin carbon fiber in hydrogen tanks. The methods such as mass optimization, patch reinforcement, and recycled carbon fiber substitution were explored by testing it in a virtual model of the tank using Abaqus software. The results demonstrate that these approaches can significantly reduce the amount of carbon fiber required, potentially leading to a substantial decrease in the overall carbon footprint of fuel cell electric vehicles. Furthermore, the study explores the impact of these approaches that reduces the carbon fiber usage influence the factors like material usage and stress distribution within the tank.
- PostConflicting logics within the real estate industry How real estate companies navigate green investments and tensions between profitability and sustainability(2024) Skoghäll, Tilda; Windh, Anna; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Gluch, Pernilla; Hellsvik, StinaThe built industry is responsible for 42% of the world's annual CO2 emissions, which makes it one of the most significant contributors to global warming. Adapting to sustainable practices is therefore one of the most pressing challenges facing the industry in this century. One strategy to handle this challenge is to make investments that have a positive impact on the environment, commonly referred to as green investments. The aim of this thesis is to investigate how companies in the residential real estate industry navigate the potential tensions between profitability and sustainability when considering new investments. The thesis is based on a case study, employing a qualitative research design. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the case company, an investment advisory company focused on residential real estate, and its portfolio companies. The study starts from the premise that real estate companies are influenced by two different logics: the logic of the market and the logic of the environment. Regarding market logic, it was established that the real estate industry is characterised by investor requirements and sustainability regulations that compel companies to make green investments. Additionally, customers are unwilling to pay a premium for a sustainable home which creates difficulties for companies trying to adjust to these conflicts between regulations and customers. To succeed in this challenging environment, companies must integrate sustainability across their operations and identify innovative ways to invest without increasing costs for tenants. Regarding environmental logic, it has been observed that a greater proportion of companies in the industry are making green investments. This is indicative of a growing norm within the industry, whereby an increasing number of companies are focusing on sustainability work and green investments. Furthermore, the focus is not solely on economic profitability, it also encompasses the willingness to do good. Finally, the interviews revealed that many of the institutional elements of the environmental logic have influenced the market logic, leading to the conclusion that sustainability is no longer an optional consideration for companies, but rather a necessity for maintaining competitiveness.
- PostDoes recycling equal decoupling? A Business Model-LCA case study of a novel recycling service for tissue products, on two different markets(2024) Sivengård, Fabian; Solér , Björn; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Baumann, Henrikke; Baumann, HenrikkeCircular business models are commonly assumed to facilitate the transition to a more circular and sustainable economy (Böckin et al., 2022). However, the actual environmental performance of these business models is seldom properly assessed. Therefore, Böckin et al. (2022) introduced the methodology of business model life cycle assessment (BM-LCA), which serves to quantitatively assess and compare the environmental impacts of business models themselves. Previous studies employing the BM-LCA methodology have examined circularity and servitisation in business models, and explored the potential for business model innovation, but call for further applications of the method (Baumann, 2023; Goffetti et al., 2022). In this study, BM-LCA is applied to investigate a novel closed-loop recycling service for a single-use tissue product, deployed by a multinational hygiene products company. The aim is to assess the potential of the recycling service to lead to decoupling of environmental impact from the economic performance of the company’s business models around the given tissue product. The study considers four different business model scenarios on the German and Swedish markets respectively, based on the actual production and business models in these markets. The study frames different scales of the recycling loop, firstly, the theoretical scenario of 100% closed-loop recycling, and secondly, the recycling service’s maximal practically feasible capacity in Germany of 20%. The third scenario represents the linear production from externally purchased recovered waste paper, while the fourth represents the linear production from 100% fresh wood based fibre. The study considers two impact categories, Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Forest Area. The impact assessment and sensitivity analysis cater for concluding that the recycling service contributes to decoupling of the total environmental impact (taking both impact categories into account) from economic performance, compared to the linear business model scenarios. The decoupling potential is unambiguous with regards to the forest area impact category. The 100% recycling loop scenario also has the lowest GWP impact score, but the difference to the second and third scenario is marginal. In fact, the second scenario (20% recycling loop) has slightly higher GWP impact than the third scenario, in which there is no closed-loop recycling. This offers some ambiguity regarding the decoupling potential of the recycling service with regards to GWP impact. The study explores the environmental hotspots of the business models scenarios and how they differ between markets. In Sweden, the greatest share of the GWP impact derives from upstream production, while on the German market, the hotspot is the production processes themselves. A sensitivity analysis of specific market parameters shows that the environmental performance of the circular business model scenarios is highly dependent on i.e. revenue margins, energy prices, electricity mix and waste management system.