Operations Research for Circular Economy

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, there has been an increased focus on sustainable practices to address environmental deterioration within the frameworks of the social and circular economy. The circular economy aims to minimize waste by reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling resources. Key areas where these principles intersect include the reuse of electronic devices, efficient food distribution to reduce waste and insecurity, recycling of construction materials, extending the use of clothes, redistributing surplus products, and creating sustainable urban environments. These efforts collectively promote a resilient and sustainable economy that values environmental stewardship and social equity.

The integration of operations research (OR) in these domains is essential for optimizing processes, improving efficiency, and achieving sustainability goals. OR can be used to design efficient supply chains, optimize operations (e.g., inventory management, workloads, etc.), and streamline logistics for the collection, sorting, and distribution of reusable goods in an equitable manner to beneficiaries. 

This Special Issue of "Applied Sciences" aims to highlight the key role of operations research in promoting sustainable practices within the circular economy. We invite researches and practitioners to submit their latest findings that demonstrate how OR can enhance the social and circular economy. Real applications and case studies are particularly encouraged. Areas of applications include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Food Distribution Networks: improving the efficiency of food banks and distribution systems to minimize food waste and address food insecurity.
• Construction Material Recycling: enhancing the processes involved in the recycling and reuse of construction materials to reduce the environmental footprint of the construction industry.
• Clothing Reuse and Upcycling: streamlining the logistics and operations of second-hand clothing markets, upcycling initiatives, and textile recycling.
• Electronic Device Refurbishment and Recycling: optimizing the processes for collecting, refurbishing, and recycling electronic devices to reduce e-waste and environmental impact.
• Surplus Product Redistribution: designing efficient systems for the redistribution of surplus products, including food, household items, and other goods, to those in need.
• Sustainable Urban Development: applying OR to plan and develop sustainable urban environments, focusing on waste management, resource efficiency, and social inclusion.
• Waste Management Systems: optimizing waste collection, sorting, and recycling processes to reduce landfill use and promote recycling and composting.
• Agricultural Supply Chains: streamlining agricultural processes to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and ensure equitable distribution of food resources.
• Packaging and Plastic Reduction: developing strategies to minimize packaging waste
• Circular Business Models: creating and implementing business models that support circular economy principles, such as product-as-a-service or take-back schemes.

This Special Issue will contribute to a deeper understanding of how operations research can support the transition towards a more sustainable and equitable future. The focus remains on the technological aspects of operations research. It must be clear that submissions emphasizing managerial strategies or decision-making processes without a strong technological component will not be considered.

Dr. Marc Juanpera
Prof. Dr. Laia Ferrer-Martí
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• operations research
• circular economy
• sustainable practices
• resource management
• waste reduction