Date of Defense

4-18-2025

Date of Graduation

4-2025

Department

Marketing

First Advisor

Marcellis Zondag

Second Advisor

Kate Martini

Third Advisor

Anne Marie Lochner

Abstract

This thesis was meant to explore the viability of implementing a small-scale circular supply chain through paper cup recycling on Western Michigan University’s (WMU) campus. A circular supply chain is a type of supply chain that includes the collection and reuse of post-consumer products unlike a traditional supply chain which does not account for post-consumer products. I was given the project of implementing a paper cup recycling pilot when I accepted the position of work co-op in the Global Supply Chain Sustainability team at Graphic Packaging International (GPI). The project's goal was to establish a pilot on campus in cafe locations that would emulate a quick service food restaurant (QSR) to better understand the supply chain needs, business requirements, and associated consumer behavior.

In this pilot we selected two cafe locations on campus to implement paper cup recycling which included adding a recycling station that accepted paper cups and various signage. With the financial help of GPI and the knowledge of the WMU psychology department I helped to procure the bins and signs used in the pilot. To support the collection and recycling of paper cups I had to work with WMU and outside partners to adjust WMU’s recycling stream to accommodate recycling paper cups. Throughout this project I worked with WMU, GPI, and other partners to help make this pilot a success.

Based on my experiences executing this project and working for GPI I wrote the following thesis to record what I have learned in hopes that it will be helpful in the future. It is important to note that for this project we partnered with the WMU psychology department for data collection on consumer behavior and research design. My thesis does not include any empirical data as my focus was on the supply chain and business requirements. In this thesis I will discuss the project design, underlying problems, and suggestions for future research.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Restricted

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