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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 379

Special Issue Editors


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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

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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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
Viewed by 69
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
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