Improving the Distribution Network Process in a Reverse Supply Chain by Incorporating Environmental Indicators Using Metaheuristic Algorithms in the Plastic Recycling Industry

Mehdi  Zarrati; Hilda  Saleh; Mohsen  Vaez; Farhad  Hosseinzadeh Lotfi

Authors

Mehdi Zarrati Department of Industrial Engineering, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2049-8083
Hilda Saleh Department of Cognitive Computing Sciences, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6015-5758
Mohsen Vaez Department of Mathematics, Ra.C., Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4239-6109
Farhad Hosseinzadeh Lotfi Department of Mathematics, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5022-553X

Keywords:

reverse logistics, metaheuristic algorithms, plastic recycling industry, multi-objective integer programming

Abstract

Since the beginning of the past decade, the fate of industrial products and goods during the consumption phase has become one of the major concerns of supply chain researchers. This process begins from the moment a product is delivered and its warranty and after-sales support period commences and continues through to the reuse of the obsolete product at the end of its life cycle. Subsequently, with the expansion of environmental concerns on the one hand and the emergence of considerable economic benefits on the other, the concepts of reverse logistics and reverse supply chains for recovering used products have received increasing attention. Accordingly, the primary objective of the present study is to develop a multi-objective, multi-stage, and multi-product strategic planning model for a closed-loop supply chain. The proposed model is designed for the plastic recycling industry and simultaneously pursues two objective functions. The first objective is to minimize the total cost of the closed-loop supply chain, including fixed investment, transportation, and collection costs. The second objective seeks to select the best routes for transferring products among different components of the network such that transportation time is minimized. The results obtained from implementing the model indicate that the proposed approach improves supply chain processes and significantly enhances productivity in the plastic recycling industry.

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