Development of a multi-objective model for the design of sustainable supply chains: the case of perishable food products

Volha Yakavenka (), Ioannis Mallidis, Dimitrios Vlachos, Eleftherios Iakovou and Zafeiriou Eleni
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Volha Yakavenka: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Ioannis Mallidis: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dimitrios Vlachos: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Eleftherios Iakovou: Texas A&M University
Zafeiriou Eleni: Democritus University of Thrace

Annals of Operations Research, 2020, vol. 294, issue 1, No 26, 593-621

Abstract: Abstract The role of sustainability in the function of a company and more specifically a food company is pivotal for its financial performance. The environmental issues as well as the potential economic gains from the implementation of its principles ask for the use of multiple instruments that have been developed to green supply chains. Moreover, social issues also arise and involve the food companies social responsibility, as this can be realized through the supply of fresh products that meet consumption security standards. On this basis, the strategic design of these companies’ supply chains can assists them towards meeting their sustainability objectives as it may lead to the selection of transportation modes, location of entry points and distribution centers, and flows between the nodes of the networks under cost, environmental and social impact minimization criteria. Under this context the purpose of this manuscript is to develop and employ a multi-objective (namely cost, social-time and emission minimization) mixed integer linear programming decision-making model for the network design of sustainable supply chains of perishable food products. The specific model was implemented in the case of a fruits importer in the North-Eastern European region considering its geographical settings. To synopsize and according to our findings the suggested model is an easy to use decision-making tool that leads to a whole set of possible solutions incorporating trade-offs between three aspects of sustainability.

Keywords: Sustainable supply chain; Supply chain design; Perishable food products; Decision-making; Multi-objective optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10479-019-03434-5

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