Optimizing Urban Distribution Routes for Perishable Foods Considering Carbon Emission Reduction

Diansheng Lin, Zhiyong Zhang, Jiaxin Wang, Liu Yang, Yongqiang Shi and Jeffrey Soar
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Diansheng Lin: School of Economics and Commerce, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Zhiyong Zhang: School of Economics and Commerce, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jiaxin Wang: School of Economics and Commerce, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Liu Yang: School of Economics and Commerce, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Yongqiang Shi: School of Economics and Commerce, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jeffrey Soar: School of Management and Enterprise, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4072, Australia

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 16, 1-22

Abstract: The increasing demand for urban distribution increases the number of transportation vehicles which intensifies the congestion of urban traffic and leads to a lot of carbon emissions. This paper focuses on carbon emission reduction in urban distribution, taking perishable foods as the object. It carries out optimization analysis of urban distribution routes to explore the impact of low carbon policy on urban distribution routes planning. On the basis of analysis of the cost components and corresponding constraints of urban distribution, two optimization models of urban distribution routes with and without carbon emissions cost are constructed. Fuel quantity related to cost and carbon emissions in the model is calculated based on traffic speed, vehicle fuel quantity and passable time period of distribution. Then an improved algorithm which combines genetic algorithm and tabu search algorithm is designed to solve models. Moreover, an analysis of the influence of carbon tax price is also carried out. It is concluded that in the process of urban distribution based on the actual network information, path optimization considering the low carbon factor can effectively reduce the distribution process of CO 2 , and reduce the total cost of the enterprise and society, thus achieving greater social benefits at a lower cost. In addition, the government can encourage low-carbon distribution by rationally adjusting the price of carbon tax to achieve a higher social benefit.

Keywords: low carbon; urban distribution; perishable foods; route optimization; cost (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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