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Impacts of Environmental Sustainability on Logistics and Supply Chain Management

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 8 May 2024 | Viewed by 4778

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Florian Kellner

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Computer Science, TH Rosenheim, 83024 Rosenheim, Germany
Interests: data science; business analytics; sustainable operations; green logistics; transport modelling; game theory
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Lienland

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Business Administration, OTH Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Interests: performance management; performance measurement; controlling; management accounting; business intelligence; BI applications; business applications

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Plach

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Business Administration, OTH Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Interests: digital transformation; logistics; production; sustainability; data science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The great pressure exerted by different stakeholder groups, a growing number of research studies, and many business cases prove that sustainability considerations are attracting increased attention in the domains of operations and logistics, both in research and in practice. This is not surprising, as sustainable logistics and supply chain management may contribute significantly to an overall sustainable development, meeting the needs of future generations while taking economic, environmental, and social aspects into account. In particular, various studies show that logistics and supply chain activities are significant sources of greenhouse gases, and research is being conducted to understand how environmental sustainability practices and considerations can affect these activities and reduce emissions.

The aim of this Special Issue is to investigate the impacts of environmental sustainability on logistics and supply chain management. It contributes to sustainable logistics and supply chain management by presenting innovative approaches and applications, as well as empirical findings that promote a positive impact on the social and/or environmental dimensions of sustainability. This includes, for example, research showing how transparency across logistics networks can be increased and negative environmental and social impacts in supply chains can be reduced.

There is no limitation to a specific research methodology, i.e., the presented research may be based on operations research, data analytics, data science, geospatial analysis, surveys, interviews, reviews, cases, etc. The following list provides an illustrative set of topics and paper types suitable for this Special Issue, but it is far from exhaustive. Any questions about the suitability of a topic may be directed to the Special Issue Guest Editors.

Methodological papers (e.g., novel approaches for integrating and/or balancing sustainability aspects in decision-making processes from the logistics and supply chain sector);
Conceptual papers: innovative approaches for operations and logistics system analyses with a focus on two- or three-dimensional sustainability;
Novel approaches for increasing the transparency and/or for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across logistics networks;
Empirical papers/computational analyses studying the impact of environmental sustainability on logistics and supply chain management;
Real-world applications/case studies studying the impact of sustainability on logistics and supply chain management, logistics and supply chain innovation and entrepreneurial approaches in this area of interest, green logistics management;
Systematic literature reviews: this may cover the topics listed above, i.e., literature reviews on approaches for measuring, managing, and reducing GHG emissions in logistics networks, presentations of real-world applications/best practices, empirical studies, and so forth.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Florian Kellner
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Lienland
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Plach
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

sustainable operations
sustainable logistics
sustainable supply chain management
green logistics

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Supply Chain-Oriented Model to Predict Crude Oil Import Prices in South Korea Based on the Hybrid Approach

by Jisung Jo, Umji Kim, Eonkyung Lee, Juhyang Lee and Sewon Kim

Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16725; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416725 - 11 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 731

Abstract

Although numerous studies have explored key variables for forecasting crude oil prices, the role of supply chain factors has often been overlooked. In the face of global risks such as COVID-19, the Russia–Ukraine war, and the U.S.–China trade dispute, supply chain management (SCM) has evolved beyond an individual company’s concern. This research investigates the impact of a supply chain-oriented variable on the forecasting of crude oil import prices in South Korea. Our findings reveal that models incorporating the Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI) outperform those without it, emphasizing the importance of monitoring supply chain-related variables for stabilizing domestic prices for policy makers. Additionally, we propose a novel hybrid factor-based approach that integrates time series and machine learning models to enhance the prediction performance of oil prices. This endeavor is poised to serve as a foundational step toward developing methodologically sound forecasting models for oil prices, offering valuable insights for policymakers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Environmental Sustainability on Logistics and Supply Chain Management)

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24 pages, 10154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Collection and Processing of Roadside Grass Clippings: A Supply Chain Optimization Case Study for East Flanders

by Frederik De Wieuw, Tom Pauwels, Christa Sys, Eddy Van de Voorde, Edwin van Hassel, Thierry Vanelslander and Jeffrey Willems

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 14006; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151814006 - 21 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1198

Abstract

The paper focuses on secondary bio streams which are not captured efficiently in the value supply chain. Specifically, roadside grass clippings were chosen, based on their logistical optimization potential, direct feasibility, locality, biomass potential, and economic valorization value. The main objective is to determine how this secondary flow can be brought to the “factory gate”—through road transport and inland shipping—and at what cost per unit. To this end, various scenarios were developed for a case study in East Flanders, considering multiple combinations of first collection points, secondary collection points, and processing points. The result is a generically applicable Excel-based tool that combines these variations with a solution considering both inland waterways and road transport. These scenarios become valuable in applying the tool for grass clippings and optimizing this value chain located in East Flanders. The results show that reducing the number of collection points is favorable for the utilization of inland waterways, as it reduces costs related to transshipment. Nevertheless, unimodal road transport is still the most cost-effective method for transporting this secondary material stream from the collection point to the processing point. Consequently, a lower weight and a higher density will lead to lower costs, which eventually bottom out, due to regulations and conditions that must be met. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Environmental Sustainability on Logistics and Supply Chain Management)

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23 pages, 5414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Logistical Assessment of Deep-Sea Polymetallic Nodules Transport from an Offshore to an Onshore Location Using a Multiobjective Optimization Approach

by Peter Shobayo, Edwin van Hassel and Thierry Vanelslander

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11317; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411317 - 20 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 751

Abstract

The increasing growth in the global population has led to a substantial demand for low-carbon energy infrastructure, metals, and minerals. This has put more pressure on land-based deposits, which have been unsustainably exploited over the years. As a result, attention has shifted towards exploring minerals in sea-based environments. Currently, industry and researchers have identified potentially commercially viable locations for the exploration of these nodules. However, significant knowledge gaps remain in the sustainable, efficient, and effective recovery and transportation of the nodules to onshore locations. To address these gaps, the study develops a logistics and cost model embedded in a multiobjective optimization (MOO) approach. This model considers several parameters, such as the production targets, port distance and location, storage capacity, vessel characteristics, transportation options, and cost inputs. By incorporating these parameters, the study analyzes different combinations of vessel classes and onshore locations and provides insights into optimizing offshore–onshore logistics and transportation options. The findings reveal that small and medium-sized vessels require lower storage capacity because they can complete more trips. Furthermore, the analysis reveals the cost of deploying additional vessels outweighs the benefits of reduced storage space for long-distance transport; therefore, smaller and medium-sized vessels are more suitable for locations closer to the offshore production site. Additionally, proximity to the onshore location is important, as it reduces transport costs and simplifies logistics operations. Subsequently, there is a need to have a reasonable buffer rate as this reduces the impact of potential disruptions during transport. From a managerial viewpoint, the study highlights the need to carefully consider vessel types based on transport requirements and journey characteristics. The analysis further identifies the benefits of having an onshore location close to the offshore production site. This will lead to optimized transport and logistics operations. Based on this, the study contributes to the body of knowledge in offshore logistics by developing a multiobjective optimization model for offshore–onshore transport logistics and cost analysis. This model provides a practical tool for informed decision-making and provides insight into vessel size and location considerations. Finally, the study establishes how simultaneous consideration of multiple factors in transport operations can lead to optimized and informed decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Environmental Sustainability on Logistics and Supply Chain Management)

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Review

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20 pages, 1796 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Global Analysis of Emissions, Decarbonization, and Alternative Fuels in Inland Navigation—A Systematic Literature Review

by Charilaos Christodoulou Raftis, Thierry Vanelslander and Edwin van Hassel

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14173; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914173 - 25 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1430

Abstract

In response to the pressing need for transportation decarbonization, this paper examines the often overlooked domain of inland waterway transport and seeks to answer which alternative fuel or power source is the most promising for that sector. As the shipping industry significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, it has been shifting towards alternative fuels and decarbonization measures in the effort to reduce them, whereas the inland waterways, operating predominantly on diesel engines, have not achieved equivalent substantial progress. Employing a systematic literature review and regional analysis, this study identifies notable trends. LNG initially emerged as a favored alternative fuel, but recent studies emphasize a shift towards “greener” solutions like batteries and hydrogen. Europe and Asia lead in these developments. This investigation uncovers critical gaps in research and development, particularly in the Northern European countries that have extensive inland waterway networks. It also calls for future studies to explore the performance of vessels that have adopted LNG compared to other emerging alternatives and emphasizes the importance of considering the time lag between technology development and research publication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Environmental Sustainability on Logistics and Supply Chain Management)

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