sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Sustainable Lean Development of Supply Chain and Logistic in Smart Port

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Oceans".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 12 July 2026 | Viewed by 5048

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Logistics Engineering College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
Interests: supply chain; smart port; logistics management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the synergies between sustainable practices, lean principles, and smart technologies in optimizing supply chain and logistics operations within smart ports. It aims to address how digitalization (e.g., IoT, big data, AI) enables lean efficiency (waste reduction, process optimization) while advancing sustainability goals (carbon neutrality, resource efficiency) in port ecosystems. Its scope encompasses the following topics: (1) smart technologies driving lean-sustainable integration (e.g., AI for demand forecasting, blockchain for transparent green logistics); (2) lean methods for reducing environmental footprint (e.g., energy-efficient routing, circular supply chains); (3) frameworks for assessing triple-bottom-line performance (economic, environmental, social) in smart port logistics; and (4) challenges like technology adoption barriers, stakeholder coordination, and regulatory alignment.

Its purpose is to consolidate cutting-edge research, bridging theoretical insights and industry practices to guide policymakers, port managers, and researchers in implementing holistic strategies.

The existing literature often treats lean, sustainability, or smart port technologies in isolation, or focuses on pairwise interactions. This Special Issue fills gaps by exploring their tripartite integration, investigating how smart port innovations simultaneously enable lean efficiency and sustainability. It offers actionable models to harmonize cost reduction, operational agility, and long-term ecological resilience, thus advancing a more integrated discourse in port supply chain management.

Dr. Xiuwen Fu
Prof. Dr. Xiangwei Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • smart port
  • sustainable lean development
  • supply chain logistics
  • smart technologies
  • port ecosystem
  • artificial intelligence

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

17 pages, 2152 KB  
Article
Game-Theoretic Analysis of Green Emission Reduction in Financially Constrained Dual-Channel Seafood Supply Chain: The Role of E-Commerce Platform Investment
by Man Yang, Xiangwei Liu, Minhua Song, Min Wang, Nenad Zrnic and Xiuwen Fu
Sustainability 2026, 18(6), 2731; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18062731 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 335
Abstract
This study investigates the optimal pricing and green investment strategies within a dual-channel seafood supply chain comprising a seafood manufacturer and an e-commerce platform, where the manufacturer faces capital constraints. In response to the emerging model of e-commerce platform financing, we develop a [...] Read more.
This study investigates the optimal pricing and green investment strategies within a dual-channel seafood supply chain comprising a seafood manufacturer and an e-commerce platform, where the manufacturer faces capital constraints. In response to the emerging model of e-commerce platform financing, we develop a Stackelberg game model to analyze two scenarios: single green investment (by the manufacturer only) and joint green investment (by both the manufacturer and the platform). We derive the equilibrium decisions for both parties under each scenario. The results indicate that enhanced market competitiveness of the direct sales channel increases the manufacturer’s wholesale revenue from the self-operated channel and its direct sales revenue, while also enabling the platform to achieve higher profits through a premium pricing strategy. Furthermore, the choice of green investment mode is contingent upon the intensity of channel competition and the platform’s commission rate. Specifically, when both parameters are low, a single green investment strategy constitutes an equilibrium. Conversely, when direct channel competition is sufficiently intense, a joint green investment strategy emerges as the Pareto-dominant equilibrium, leading to a win–win outcome regardless of the commission rate. These findings offer actionable insights for managers of seafood companies and e-commerce platforms in formulating sustainable channel cooperation and financing strategies. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 1179 KB  
Article
Sustainability and Smart Technology in Supply Chains, Law, and Economic Development: A Comparative Study of Logistics Performance in Smart Ports of China and Pakistan
by Zhuiwen Lai, Muhammad Bilawal Khaskheli and Zhuo Ba
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010324 - 29 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1105
Abstract
This research offers a comparative examination of how China and Pakistan’s recent port developments are revolutionizing the supply chain and logistics from the perspective of the interrelation of policy, law, and technology. It examines how these developments respond to the imperatives of sustainable [...] Read more.
This research offers a comparative examination of how China and Pakistan’s recent port developments are revolutionizing the supply chain and logistics from the perspective of the interrelation of policy, law, and technology. It examines how these developments respond to the imperatives of sustainable development, aiming to reconcile economic development, environmental protection, and social justice. The extent to which policy and regulatory frameworks facilitate or undermine the adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain in port operations is also investigated. We provide a conceptual framework to examine the development of smartness in Chinese and Pakistani ports at the nexus of sustainability, emerging technologies, and supply chain logistics. This study engages in qualitative secondary data analysis, drawing on government policies, international reports, and the relevant literature. Against the backdrop of the peculiar development stages of Pakistani and Chinese ports, this study aims to identify the determinative policy and legal drivers that substantially improve both economic performance and environmental outcomes. This study aims to present a replicable model of sustainable port modernization, providing strategic direction to policymakers and port authorities in developing maritime countries. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

24 pages, 1617 KB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review on the Intersection of the Cold Chain and Digital Transformation
by Nadin Alherimi and Mohamed Ben-Daya
Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11202; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411202 - 14 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3176
Abstract
Digital transformation (DT) is reshaping cold chain operations through technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and digital twins. However, evidence remains fragmented, and a systematic synthesis focused on how these technologies affect cold chain performance, sustainability, and [...] Read more.
Digital transformation (DT) is reshaping cold chain operations through technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and digital twins. However, evidence remains fragmented, and a systematic synthesis focused on how these technologies affect cold chain performance, sustainability, and cost-efficiency is limited. This PRISMA-based systematic literature review analyzes 107 studies published between 2009 and 2025 to examine enabling technologies and application areas, operational and sustainability impacts, and the main adoption challenges. The reviewed evidence suggests that digitalization can improve real-time visibility, temperature control, traceability, and energy management, supporting waste reduction and improved quality assurance. Key challenges include high implementation costs and uncertain returns on investment, interoperability constraints, data governance and cybersecurity concerns, and organizational readiness gaps. The paper concludes with implications for managers and policymakers and a future research agenda emphasizing integrated multi-technology solutions, standardized sustainability assessment, and rigorous validation through pilots, testbeds, and real-world deployments to enable scalable and resilient cold chain digitalization. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop