Fuzzy Optimization and Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Supply Chain Design: Applications in the Dairy Industry

Pablo Flores-Siguenza (), Victor Lopez-Sanchez (), Julio Mosquera-Gutierres, Juan Llivisaca-Villazhañay, Marlon Moscoso-Martínez and Rodrigo Guamán
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Pablo Flores-Siguenza: Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Anahuac Mexico, Huixquilucan 52786, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
Victor Lopez-Sanchez: Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Anahuac Mexico, Huixquilucan 52786, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
Julio Mosquera-Gutierres: Statistic Center, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador
Juan Llivisaca-Villazhañay: Department of Applied Chemistry and Production Systems, Faculty of Chemical, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador
Marlon Moscoso-Martínez: Faculty of Sciences, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Panamericana Sur km 1 1/2, Riobamba 060106, Ecuador
Rodrigo Guamán: Department of Applied Chemistry and Production Systems, Faculty of Chemical, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-24

Abstract: The increasing emphasis on integrating sustainability into corporate operations has prompted supply chain managers to incorporate not only economic objectives but also environmental and social considerations into their network designs. This study presents a structured six-stage methodology to develop a fuzzy multi-objective optimization model for the sustainable design of a multi-level, multi-product forward supply chain network. The model incorporates two conflicting objectives: minimizing total network costs and reducing environmental impact. To quantify environmental performance, a comprehensive life cycle assessment is conducted in accordance with the ISO 14040 standard and the ReCiPe 2016 method, focusing on three impact categories: human health, resources, and ecosystems. To address uncertainty in demand and production costs, fuzzy mixed-integer linear programming is employed. The model is validated and applied to a real-world case study of a dairy small-to-medium enterprise in Ecuador. Using the epsilon-constraint method, a Pareto frontier is generated to illustrate the trade-offs between the economic and environmental objectives. This research provides a robust decision-making tool for uncertain environments and advances knowledge on the integration of life cycle assessment with supply chain optimization and network design methodologies for sustainable development.

Keywords: sustainable supply chain; fuzzy optimization; life cycle assessment; environmental impact; supply chain network design; dairy industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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