Supply Chain and Sustainable Practices in a Circular Economy

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue, “Supply Chain and Sustainable Practices in a Circular Economy”, for the journal Sustainability.

This Special Issue delves into the transformative strategies reshaping supply chains and integrating circular economy principles within the fashion and textiles industry and beyond. As industry sectors grapple with environmental, operational, and ethical challenges, pioneering approaches such as circular business models, closed-loop supply chains, and technological innovations (e.g., blockchain for traceability) are emerging as key solutions. This collection of articles explores the integration of eco-friendly materials into the supply chain, the critical importance of supply chain transparency, reverse logistics, and the role of stakeholders in driving systemic change. By highlighting cutting-edge research and case studies, this issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the efforts to foster circularity and sustainable operations across global supply networks. Join us in examining how these innovative supply chain practices are paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable future.

Focus: This Special Issue focuses on the innovative strategies being implemented across supply chains to promote circularity and sustainable practices. It aims to highlight the latest research, empirical case studies, and practical applications that are driving industries toward closed-loop systems and sustainable enterprise development.

Scope: The issue will cover a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Circular supply chain management and reverse logistics;
• Traceability, transparency, and blockchain innovation in supply chains;
• Sustainable design, procurement, and eco-friendly materials;
• Technological innovations in green manufacturing and operations;
• Circular business models and value chain collaborations;
• Ethical production and sustainable enterprise development;
• Policy and regulatory frameworks supporting supply chain circularity.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of supply chain sustainability and circular economy transitions. Its aims are as follows:

• Showcase successful case studies and best practices in circular supply chains;
• Identify logistical and operational challenges and opportunities for further improvement;
• Foster collaboration between academia, industry practitioners, and policymakers;
• Inspire future research and innovation in sustainable and circular networks.

Relationship to the Existing Literature:

This Special Issue will supplement the existing literature by addressing several key gaps and emerging trends identified in recent studies. While there is a growing body of research on general sustainability, this issue will provide a more integrated and focused perspective on the mechanisms of the supply chain and their direct role in operationalising the circular economy, combining insights from operations management, environmental science, and business strategy.

Contribution to Sustainability:

The Special Issue will contribute to sustainability in the following ways:

• Defining and Quantifying Sustainability: Providing clear definitions and metrics for circularity within the supply chain, helping to standardize measurements and benchmarks.
• Measuring and Monitoring Sustainability: Presenting tools, traceability frameworks, and methodologies for assessing the environmental and social impacts of supply chain operations.
• Applications of Sustainability: Showcasing practical applications and structural innovations (like waste valorisation and reverse logistics) that are making a tangible difference in reducing industry footprints.
• Policies and Laws: Discussing the role of policy and regulation in promoting sustainable procurement, ethical practices, and ensuring compliance across the entire supply chain.

By addressing these aspects, the Special Issue aligns with the journal's aim to tackle sustainability challenges through socio-economic, scientific, and integrated approaches. It will provide valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working towards a more sustainable industry.

We look forward to receiving your novel contributions.

Dr. Saniyat Islam
Dr. Taylor Brydges
Dr. Caroline Tan
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-anonymized 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.

• sustainable supply chain
• circular economy
• circular supply chain
• green logistics
• supply chain traceability
• reverse logistics
• sustainable business models
• sustainable production
• ethical production
• waste management
• sustainable enterprise development
• sustainable and renewable materials
• carbon footprint
• closed-loop manufacturing
• recycling and upcycling
• Industry 4.0
• blockchain innovation