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Sustainability
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Circularity, Innovation, and Optimisation in Sustainable Supply Chains
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Circularity, Innovation, and Optimisation in Sustainable Supply Chains

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: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 4214

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. James O. B. Rotimi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Built Environment, College of Sciences, Massey University, Albany Campus, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
Interests: construction economics; construction project management; construction supply chain management; post disaster reconstruction; disaster reconstruction legislation; facilities and asset management; circular economy and sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Esther Oluwadamilola Olufemi Rotimi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
Interests: sustainability; circular economy; supply chain; knowledge management
Dr. Olamide Shittu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
Interests: circular economy; social practices; sustainability; supply chain; knowledge management; environmental justice

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the rapidly evolving landscape of global commerce, innovation, optimization, sustainability, and circularity in the supply chain have never been more important as critical pillars for forward-thinking organizations that are committed to environmental stewardship and ethical practices. These approaches not only enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact, but also involve creating value through responsible social practices and the regeneration of resources. As organisations increasingly adopt these circular economy models, they focus on designing out waste and extending the lifecycle of materials, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive economic system. Despite the growing body of research dedicated to innovation, optimisation, the circular economy, and the sustainability of supply chains as discrete subjects, it is imperative to acknowledge that the depth of understanding concerning these topics must progress in tandem with the evolving economic landscape.

In this Special Issue, we aim to focus on the singular and/or collective synergy between innovation, optimization, circularity, and sustainability in supply chains. The purpose of this Special Issue is to facilitate in-depth discourse on the enhancement of supply chains in all its ramifications. We welcome submissions of comprehensive review papers and empirical research articles that offer theoretical and practical contributions that address these topic areas. The manuscripts should explicitly be directed towards enhancing the supply chain knowledge area.

Research topics may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Sustainable/green supply chain management;
  • Technological innovation towards sustainable supply chain;
  • Circular economy;
  • Reverse logistics;
  • Supply chain integration/optimization;
  • Waste management;
  • Globalized supply chain management;
  • Equity/social and environmental justice in the supply chain;
  • Transforming social practices in the supply chain.

Prof. Dr. James O. B. Rotimi
Dr. Esther Oluwadamilola Olufemi Rotimi
Dr. Olamide Shittu
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

  • innovation
  • optimization
  • supply chain
  • sustainability
  • circular economy

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3027 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Quality of Commercial Relations Between Producers and Buyers in the Fruit and Vegetable Supply Chain
by Roberta Pietrangeli, Clara Cicatiello, Francesca Galli, Anna Carbone, Luca Cacchiarelli, Alessandro Sorrentino and Carlo Russo
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2641; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062641 - 17 Mar 2025
Viewed by 417
Abstract
The different bargaining power of actors is a long-standing problem in the fruit and vegetable supply chain, where buyers (e.g., retailers, industry, and wholesalers) have more power than agricultural producers and are, therefore, able to engage in commercial practices that may be perceived [...] Read more.
The different bargaining power of actors is a long-standing problem in the fruit and vegetable supply chain, where buyers (e.g., retailers, industry, and wholesalers) have more power than agricultural producers and are, therefore, able to engage in commercial practices that may be perceived as unfavorable or even unfair by the weaker part. This study explores how producers perceive the quality of commercial relations. The methods include a focus group discussion with sales managers of producer organizations and a survey of agricultural producers in Italy. We measure their willingness to change buyer and their stated overall satisfaction with the commercial relation by analyzing ninety-eight commercial relations and five dimensions of quality in the relationship. We identify four clusters of relationships characterized by different quality levels. The satisfaction and willingness to change buyers significantly differ across the clusters; economically favorable commercial relations are associated with a low willingness to change buyers, even when the producer is not satisfied with the overall quality of the relationship. The highest levels of satisfaction and the lower willingness to change buyers are reached for commercial relations that are not only economically favorable but also include positive relational aspects such as trust and mutual commitment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circularity, Innovation, and Optimisation in Sustainable Supply Chains)
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26 pages, 2883 KiB  
Article
Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain: The Impact on Competitive Advantage
by Karen Crooks and Abubaker Haddud
Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1378; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041378 - 8 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1511
Abstract
Background: The potential sustainability perspective of RFID technology in business needs more exploration. This study investigated how RFID technology could enhance competitive advantage (CA) within the pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) and identified implementation barriers and solutions. Methods: Data were collected through an online [...] Read more.
Background: The potential sustainability perspective of RFID technology in business needs more exploration. This study investigated how RFID technology could enhance competitive advantage (CA) within the pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) and identified implementation barriers and solutions. Methods: Data were collected through an online survey from 58 professionals working in PSC roles, addressing three research questions. Results: Key areas for RFID adoption were identified as distribution (72.40%), warehousing (53.40%), reverse logistics (48.30%), and manufacturing (24.10%). Major concerns included the high cost of RFID devices (60.34%), limited industry understanding of RFID applications (58.62%), and the cost of supporting software (44.83%). RFID technology has the potential to improve CA by reducing costs and enhancing reliability, with budget and project management addressing the financial barriers. Conclusions: Insights from PSC practitioners provided a valuable empirical perspective, contributing both theoretically and practically to the limited existing literature on RFID in PSCs, specifically indicating where RFID can be used, what the expected key benefits are, and the expected challenges businesses need to overcome. This research benefits various PSC stakeholders, especially those focused on last-mile distribution by enhancing competitive advantages and creating and maintaining long-lasting business performance sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circularity, Innovation, and Optimisation in Sustainable Supply Chains)
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18 pages, 598 KiB  
Article
An Analytic Model for Quantitatively Assessing the Resilience Level of an Agri-Food Supply Chain: Development and Validation
by Letizia Tebaldi, Amedeo Mattia Gubiotti and Giuseppe Vignali
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 11038; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411038 - 16 Dec 2024
Viewed by 846
Abstract
Over the last decade, resilience has become an indispensable aspect to be considered when managing supply chains given to the recent challenges they were subjected to, and a constituting element of their sustainability. However, despite literature on supply chain resilience is copious, tools [...] Read more.
Over the last decade, resilience has become an indispensable aspect to be considered when managing supply chains given to the recent challenges they were subjected to, and a constituting element of their sustainability. However, despite literature on supply chain resilience is copious, tools for quantifying the resilience of a business are lacking, especially when dealing with the a priori resilience of a system, since several assessments are a posteriori carried out, after a disruption has manifested. In response, an analytic quantitative model is here proposed, whose output is a Global Resilience Index for a company. The model is divided into 3 phases: Supply (8 factors), Production (12 factors) and Distribution (5 factors); these elements were derived from literature and semi-structured interviews with practitioners. The logical functioning of the model is based on weighted averages attributed to each single factor; for defining the weights a survey was sent, in which respondents had to express their opinion with reference to the perceived impact of those factors on resilience. For validating the model, it was implemented in three companies manufacturing the following products: fresh milk, ginseng coffee and vegetable preserves. Despite none of them reached the higher resilience level, results offer interesting insights for let the users understand where the system is weaker. This model is intended to be made available to those who desire to include the resilience assessment to manage operational decisions; moreover, this value could be included in a wider sustainability assessment of a business. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circularity, Innovation, and Optimisation in Sustainable Supply Chains)
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Review

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19 pages, 2484 KiB  
Review
Sustainability of Meat Value Chain: Bibliometric Review of Main Trends and Theoretical Connections
by Ana Bárbara Traça, Susana Campos, Andreia Dionisio, Meirielly Jesus, Joana Santos and Fernando Mata
Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17051773 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 763
Abstract
The sustainability of the meat value chain is a topic of global importance, with slaughtering close to farms emerging as a significant measure that not only enhances animal welfare, but also integrates economic, environmental, and social aspects into the meat production process. In [...] Read more.
The sustainability of the meat value chain is a topic of global importance, with slaughtering close to farms emerging as a significant measure that not only enhances animal welfare, but also integrates economic, environmental, and social aspects into the meat production process. In this study, we conducted a thorough analysis of 99 academic articles focusing on the sustainability of the meat value chain, published between 1985 and 2024. Utilizing VOSviewer software version 1.6.20, we performed both bibliometric and thematic analyses to gain insights into the evolution of research in this field. Our findings reveal a substantial increase in studies on this subject since 2017, with 80% of publications emerging in the last seven years, indicating a growing interest in this area of research. Swedish universities and researchers were identified as key contributors to this body of work, demonstrating a significant commitment to exploring the sustainability of the meat value chain. Furthermore, we observed that studies related to sustainability and the circular economy are predominantly published in journals focused on environmental issues, highlighting the interconnectedness of these concepts. This review aims to provide valuable support to researchers and academics by elucidating the boundaries and potential of research on the sustainability of the meat value chain. By shedding light on current trends and areas of focus, we hope to inspire further exploration and innovation in improving the supply chain in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circularity, Innovation, and Optimisation in Sustainable Supply Chains)
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