Search Results (4,565)

The transition toward sustainable food systems requires innovative approaches to managing perishable products, where inefficient inventory practices contribute significantly to global food loss and environmental degradation. This study develops a circular-economy-oriented inventory optimisation framework for dairy supply chains that integrates environmental externalities and waste valorisation pathways into operational decision-making. Departing from traditional linear “produce–consume–dispose” models, this study embeds three core sustainability mechanisms into a stochastic dynamic-programming framework: (1) progressive environmental cost internalisation aligned with EU Emissions-Trading System carbon pricing, capturing both waste-related emissions and cold-chain energy footprints; (2) circular-economy value-recovery channels that redirect near-expiry products to secondary applications (animal feed, biogas production, industrial processing) rather than disposal; and (3) deterioration-aware demand management that minimises resource throughput while maintaining service levels. Empirical calibration using Ukrainian dairy industry data demonstrates that sustainability-integrated inventory policies reduce waste generation by 4.8–10% relative to conventional approaches, with high-deterioration products showing the greatest potential for improvement. The authors identify a critical threshold in the circular economy: when salvage recovery rates exceed 35%, waste becomes an economic and ecological asset, fundamentally altering the sustainability calculus of inventory decisions. Environmental costs account for 4.6% of total operating expenses at current carbon prices, a share projected to increase substantially as climate regulations tighten. The findings provide actionable guidance for dairy supply chain stakeholders pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 12, 13): processors should establish circular-economy partnerships that achieve salvage rates above 35%, implement product-specific policies for high-deterioration items, and proactively integrate carbon pricing into inventory optimisation. The framework bridges sustainable operations theory and circular economy practice, offering a replicable model for transitioning perishable food supply chains toward closed-loop, low-waste configurations that simultaneously reduce environmental impact and enhance economic performance. Full article

The growing global population and increasing pressure on conventional food systems have intensified the search for sustainable and nutrient-rich protein sources. Blue foods derived from marine and freshwater organisms offer significant nutritional advantages and lower environmental footprints compared with many terrestrial animal proteins. However, challenges related to resource sustainability, processing, preservation, and product traceability limit their full potential. This review provides a broad overview of emerging technologies shaping the future of blue food systems, covering innovative production strategies, advanced processing techniques, and omics-based analytical approaches. Key developments in cellular aquaculture and cellular mariculture are discussed as promising alternatives to traditional fisheries and aquaculture, enabling the production of blue food through controlled cell cultivation. Additionally, alternative protein platforms including plant-based, fermentation-derived, and cultivated blue food analogues are assessed for their potential to enhance sustainability and diversify aquatic protein sources. Advanced structuring technologies such as extrusion, electrospinning, wet spinning, and 3D printing are highlighted for their roles in developing blue food analogues with improved texture and sensory attributes. Furthermore, non-thermal preservation techniques, including cold plasma (CP), high-pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric fields (PEFs), and ultraviolet-based treatments, are reviewed for their effectiveness in improving microbial safety and extending shelf life while maintaining nutritional quality. The integration of omics technologies (proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics) provides deeper molecular insights into product quality, authenticity, and traceability within blue food supply chains. Collectively, these interdisciplinary advancements demonstrate strong potential to transform blue food production into a more resilient, sustainable, and technology-driven sector. Future progress will depend on overcoming challenges related to scalability, regulatory frameworks, and consumer acceptance to enable the successful commercialization of next-generation blue food products. Full article

The urban trade in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) plays a key role in sustaining livelihoods in the Global South, while also suggesting potential pressure on resource supply systems. This study provides an integrated analysis of NTFP diversity, market structure, economic importance, and perceived drivers of resource decline in Kolwezi, a rapidly expanding mining city where such dynamics remain poorly documented. Data were collected through surveys conducted with 35 sellers across two major urban markets and 384 consumers from different neighbourhoods and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to examine patterns, associations, and socio-demographic influences. A total of 65 NTFP species were recorded, including 49 plant, 14 animal, and 2 fungal species, reflecting strong dependence on Miombo ecosystems. Medicinal (59.3%) and food uses dominate, with multifunctional species such as Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Desv.) J.H.Kirkbr. & Wiersama, Canarium schweinfurthii Engl., Terminalia mollis M.A.Lawson, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc., and Albizia antunesiana Harms, playing a central role in both household use and market supply. The trade is largely female-dominated (79.1%) and constitutes a major component of the informal urban economy, with monthly incomes ranging from USD 9 to 429.3, primarily driven by sales volume rather than unit price. However, the sector is constrained by structural and logistical limitations, including remoteness of supply areas, seasonality, and limited value addition. The perceived declining availability of high-use-value species, attributed by respondents to deforestation, mining expansion, and overexploitation, highlights perceived sustainability concerns. These pressures are perceived differently across socio-demographic groups, indicating heterogeneous understandings of environmental change. Overall, the results indicate a perceived mismatch between rising urban demand and declining resource availability, which may reflect an emerging socio-ecological imbalance between urban demand and perceived resource availability. Addressing these challenges requires integrated strategies that combine the domestication of priority species, the development of processing chains, improved infrastructure, and strengthened governance mechanisms. Such approaches are essential to reconcile livelihood support with the sustainable management of NTFPs in rapidly transforming urban landscapes. Full article

The electric vehicle (EV) battery industry has become a strategic pillar of the low-carbon transition, with far-reaching implications for industrial competitiveness and sustainability. This paper compares the policy mixes governing EV batteries in the EU and China and examines how different approaches shape technological innovation, industrial development, and export performance. A qualitative comparative case study is conducted, combining content analysis of core policy and regulatory documents with descriptive indicators on EV deployment, patenting activity, manufacturing capacity, and international trade. The analysis identifies two distinct but partly complementary policy models. The EU relies on innovation-driven and regulation-based instruments, coupling large research and development programs with stringent sustainability and circular-economy requirements; this model is associated with stronger performance in regulatory upgrading, collaborative innovation, and sustainability-oriented governance. China emphasizes demand expansion, large-scale fiscal support, and long-term industrial planning, which has accelerated capacity build-up, cost reductions, supply-chain integration, and manufacturing-based export competitiveness. The findings show that these contrasting policy mixes generate different technological trajectories and value-chain configurations, while both contribute to strengthening strategic competitiveness in the EV battery sector. More broadly, the study demonstrates that policy effectiveness depends less on any single instrument than on the coherence of the overall policy mix. It concludes that effective EV battery strategies should combine strong innovation incentives with mechanisms that support industrial scaling, supply-chain resilience, and high environmental standards. Full article

Under the global energy transition, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) remains an important transitional fuel. However, persistent safety risks in storage and transportation continue to limit its sustainable development. This study aims to evaluate the sustainability of China’s LPG storage and transportation system and identify practical improvement pathways. A “1+4” C-STSM multidimensional framework was developed by combining accident fault-tree analysis, comparative review of domestic and international standards, and a systematic assessment of storage, transportation, monitoring, and safety technologies. The results show that the sustainability of LPG systems depends on the coordinated performance of infrastructure, transportation, monitoring, and safety barriers across the full supply chain. China has made progress in engineering facilities and safety management, but still faces weaknesses in intrinsic safety, barrier integrity, intelligent monitoring, and life-cycle governance. The main gap with international advanced practice lies in insufficient system integration rather than the lack of basic technologies. Improving LPG sustainability requires a coordinated pathway that combines safer infrastructure, intelligent monitoring, stronger barrier management, and better regulatory coordination. Such an approach can enhance industrial safety while supporting low-loss, low-emission energy transition. Full article

This study investigates the evolving relationship between supply chain integration (SCI) and firm performance through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 148 publications retrieved from the Scopus database. Using VOSviewer 1.6.20 software, the research maps the intellectual structure of the field, highlighting influential authors, journals, and thematic developments. Findings reveal that SCI conceptualized across internal, supplier, and customer integration has consistently been linked to improved operational efficiency, responsiveness, and competitive advantage. However, empirical evidence also indicates mixed outcomes, particularly under conditions of environmental uncertainty and excessive dependence on partners. Recent scholarship demonstrates a notable shift toward sustainability-oriented integration and the adoption of digital technologies such as blockchain, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence, which collectively enhance resilience and adaptability. The analysis underscores gaps in research across developing economies and service industries, suggesting opportunities for future inquiry. Overall, the study deepens understanding of SCI’s role in shaping resilient, sustainable, and technologically enabled supply chains. Full article

The maritime sector plays a critical role in global logistics systems, acting as a key link within international supply chains. Companies in this sector generate significant employment across the logistics and global value chain. However, it is noticeable that this sector still lacks innovative ideas related to the growth of the level of sustainable development. A wider adoption of green innovations could significantly improve environmental performance and reduce the ecological impact of maritime activities. A key factor that can stimulate the development of innovations in the maritime sector is green finance solutions. Dedicated financing for the greening of the maritime sector can catalyze innovation implementation processes both on ships and in ports. This article analyzes the opportunities for investments in greening activities using specific green finance instruments. This article presents the current situation of the maritime sector in terms of innovation and opportunities for project financing and increasing the value of companies, as well as key technological solutions that increase the level of sustainability in this sector. One of the key challenges is the limited intervention of governments and international organizations in accelerating maritime decarbonization. Maritime sector companies are slow to make progress towards sustainability—there is a lack of fundamental innovation and voluntary efforts to decarbonize. This has led to a situation where a large part of the innovations created are unprofitable today. The authors of this article suggested key investment directions—digitalization and robotization solutions, modernization of old ships and greening solutions for port companies. These actions would provide a short-term breakthrough, but it is necessary to consistently invest in new types of innovations based on scientific research. Full article

This article integrates sustainability principles into a three-echelon supply chain for deteriorating items with imperfect quality, consisting of a single vendor, a third-party logistics enterprise (3PL), and a single buyer, with a focus on balancing economic efficiency with environmental responsibility. The vendor is assumed to operate an imperfect production system, resulting in products of imperfect quality. The 3PL undertakes all transportation activities, while the buyer conducts a quality inspection process to detect defective items, which is subject to Type-I and Type-II errors. Aside from that, the inventory model also assesses carbon emissions arising from various operational activities including energy usage during production, warehousing, and disposal processes, and fuel consumption in transportation, for which the above members of the supply chain are accountable. Afterward, carbon management policies such as a carbon tax and carbon cap-and-trade are considered to regulate total supply chain emissions. The objective is to minimize the joint expected total cost by simultaneously optimizing shipment frequencies and the replenishment cycle for the buyer within carbon emission constraints. An iterative solution procedure is developed to address the problem. A numerical example and sensitivity analysis are provided to demonstrate the model’s applicability and to explore the influence of critical parameters. Finally, the study presents managerial insights, along with conclusions and recommendations for future research directions. Full article

Autonomous supply chains (ASC) are the next generation of digitally empowered logistics and operations systems that can make adaptive, data-driven, and intelligent decisions. Innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins (DT), and predictive analytics (PA) are transforming traditional supply chains into integrated and interactive networks to detect disruptions, simulate the future, and automatically modify operational decisions. This paper reviews the ASC mechanism and summarizes the increasing literature on the technologies and analytical capabilities available to support intelligent supply chain decision systems. A structured literature review was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, resulting in 52 relevant studies after screening and eligibility assessment. The paper discusses the recent advances in AI-based forecasting, simulation environments using digital twins, data integration using the Internet of Things (IoT), and predictive analytics. These technologies can help an organization gain real-time visibility of the supply chain networks. They improve the precision of demand forecasting, optimize inventory and production planning, and dynamically coordinate logistics operations. Digital twins allow the development of virtual models of supply chain ecosystems, which could be used to test scenarios, analyze risks, and plan strategies. These capabilities combined can be used to create predictive and self-adaptive supply networks capable of being responsive to uncertainty and market volatility. Besides examining the technological foundations, the paper also tracks key challenges related to the move towards autonomous supply chains, such as data governance, system interoperability, cybersecurity risks, algorithm transparency, and the necessity of successful human-AI collaboration in decision-making. The synthesis leads to a multi-layered framework that integrates data acquisition, analytics, simulation, and execution for autonomous decision-making in supply chains. Future research directions in relation to resilient supply networks, intelligent automation, and adaptive supply chain ecosystems are also provided in the study. Through integrating existing information on the new forms of intelligent technology and how it can be incorporated into the supply chain systems, this review contributes to the literature on next-generation supply chains. It will also offer information to both researchers and practitioners aiming at designing autonomous as well as data-driven supply networks. Full article

This study examines the spatio-temporal evolution and restricting mechanisms of agricultural supply chain resilience in the Yangtze River Basin from a gradient perspective. An evaluation index system encompassing the dimensions of the supply side, demand side, circulation side, and support side was developed. The Entropy-Weighted TOPSIS method, kernel density estimation, and obstacle degree model were comprehensively applied to measure and dynamically analyze supply chain resilience across 11 provinces from 2013 to 2023. The findings reveal distinct spatio-temporal evolution patterns: while the overall resilience shows an upward trend, significant gradient disparities exist, with downstream areas exhibiting markedly higher resilience than the mid- and upstream regions. Regarding the restricting mechanisms, the circulation and support sides exhibit higher levels of obstacles, representing key constraints to resilience enhancement. Among these, express delivery volume, freight turnover, and local R&D personnel full-time equivalents are the core obstacle factors affecting resilience. Based on these findings, this study proposes targeted recommendations, including optimizing rural last-mile logistics, upgrading inter-provincial freight hubs, improving rail–water intermodal transport, and strengthening cold-chain infrastructure, as well as implementing differentiated regional strategies and establishing cross-regional coordination mechanisms. These recommendations aim to provide decision-making guidance for enhancing the risk-response capabilities of agricultural supply chains in the Yangtze River Basin and to promote balanced regional development. Full article

Background: The rapid evolution of omnichannel retailing has reshaped retail supply chains (SCs) by coupling replenishment, fulfillment, and service decisions across multiple demand channels under inventory, lead-time, and capacity constraints. These interdependencies create coordination challenges, particularly when demand shocks interact with limited operational capacity. Methods: To address these challenges, this study develops a centralized Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning (HRL) control framework that makes decision timing explicit: replenishment and allocation are optimized weekly, while fulfillment and lateral inventory rebalancing are controlled daily. Policies are learned using Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) in an actor–critic architecture, with bounded stochastic policies for constrained action spaces. To mitigate the curse of dimensionality in HRL, we introduce a capacity-aware state–action encoding mechanism that compresses the control interface into structured summary signals. Demand shocks are modeled using two specifications: a mixed profile, where half the products follow a uniform demand process and the rest a Merton-type jump-diffusion process, and a fully shock-driven profile. Results: The framework is evaluated against forecast-driven base-stock and greedy fulfillment heuristics, and a perfect-information oracle, with pairwise differences examined through Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Conclusions: Overall, the proposed framework improves learning efficiency and scalability, outperforming heuristic baselines while remaining below the oracle bound. Full article

This study develops a Life-Cycle Sustainability Framework for circular business models in the context of post-war economic reconstruction and sustainable value chain transformation. Ukraine is used as the main case study due to its post-war reconstruction context and the need for resource-efficient economic recovery strategies. Under conditions of disrupted supply systems, resource constraints, and structural economic change, circular economy principles are conceptualized as strategic mechanisms for enhancing resilience, resource efficiency, and long-term competitiveness rather than solely as environmental policy instruments. Building on a structured hierarchy of circular business models aligned with product life-cycle stages, the framework emphasizes value retention through functional and usage extension beyond material recovery. The framework includes a hierarchical classification of 12 circular business models and a sustainability evaluation approach based on four criteria (K1–K4), which allow for the comparative assessment of circular business models and their combinations across life-cycle stages. Using secondary statistical data and policy review as analytical inputs, the study identifies sectors with high potential for circular transformation and sustainable investment, including agriculture, energy, industry, construction, and logistics. The results indicate that circular business models applied at early life-cycle stages, such as reuse, repair, and remanufacturing, provide the highest potential for reducing resource intensity and improving long-term economic sustainability, while recycling and energy recovery play a supporting role. These findings highlight how life-cycle-oriented circular strategies can support sustainable reconstruction pathways, strengthen international cooperation, and inform policy and managerial decision-making in transitional economic contexts. Full article

Supply chain management (SCM) involves complex coordination among multiple actors under demand uncertainty. However, most existing studies focus on simplified network structures that fail to capture all relevant dimensions of real-world supply chains or assume deterministic demand. This study proposes a comprehensive stochastic bi-level optimization framework for a multi-factory, multi-retailer, multi-customer, and multi-product supply chain network. The model captures the hierarchical interaction between decision-makers, where the production facility owner acts as the leader and the retailer as the follower, and jointly optimizes profit across both levels. To efficiently solve the resulting bi-level problem, two tailored metaheuristic solution approaches—a two-tier genetic algorithm (TT-GA) and a two-tier particle swarm optimization (TT-PSO)—are developed. Computational experiments across multiple scenarios demonstrate that TT-PSO outperforms TT-GA in Scenarios 1 and 2, achieving overall profit improvements of 6.46% and 0.76%, respectively, while TT-GA yields superior performance in Scenario 3 with a 2.80% profit improvement. The proposed framework provides decision-makers with a robust and practical tool for improving profitability and operational efficiency in complex, uncertain supply chain environments. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need to understand how supply chains can withstand and adapt to severe disruptions. While prior research has highlighted the importance of supply chain resilience and robustness in managing disruptions, less attention has been given to the mechanisms through which firms transform these capabilities into financial outcomes. Drawing on the Resource Orchestration Perspective (ROP), this study proposed that absorptive capacity acts as a cognitive orchestration mechanism that enables firms to more effectively translate resilience and robustness capabilities into financial performance during periods of major disruption. Methods: Using a quantitative approach, this research employed partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze data from 66 supply chain managers who experienced varying levels of supply chain disruption following the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Both supply chain resilience and robustness affect organizational absorptive capacity, which, in turn, enhances performance. Conclusions: This study extends ROP and provides new insights into how firms can strategically leverage disruption-related knowledge to enhance performance in turbulent environments by identifying absorptive capacity as a key mechanism linking resilience capabilities to financial outcomes. In practice, it provides managers with valuable insights to prioritize AC development and reduce financial risks associated with disruptions. Full article

This study rounds into both the historical context and future projections of sustainable supply chain research practices. It emphasizes the necessity for the advanced analyses of research articles by combining traditional analysis with modern topic modeling and forecasting techniques. This study is organized around four primary research questions. A dataset of n = 8955 indexed article keywords and abstracts for the period of 2000–2025 was analyzed in the Python (version 3.12.) environment using n-grams, top keywords by year, k-means clustering combined with dimensionality reduction, and co-occurrence networks. Time-series forecasting models were also used to project the short-term development of clusters. The dataset retrieval was performed with search string and subject-area filters to focus the analysis on managerial and economic perspectives of sustainable supply chains. The analysis identified four keyword clusters: (1) CSR and Stakeholder Engagement, (2) Circular Economy and Sustainable Production, (3) Decision-making, Resilience and Emerging Technologies, and (4) Green Supply Chain Management. These clusters were then examined to assess current research practices from a managerial and economics perspective and their near-term evolution, with results validated through the additional clustering of abstract-level topics. This study confirms a paradigm change toward the integration of circularity, digitalization, and resilience, with technology-enabled growth. Social sustainability remains underrepresented, revealing a critical gap in current research. This study contributes methodologically by updating and extending current research practices and theoretically by revealing sustainability problems trends in supply chains. Full article