Transforming Supply Chain Operations: Circular Economy, Logistics Optimization, and Carbon Footprint Reduction
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 102
Special Issue Editors
Interests: circular economy; supply chain management; operations management; sustainability; mathematical modeling and optimization
Interests: simulation and modeling; sustainability optimization; decision support systems; artificial intelligence; sustainable supply chain; renewable energy management; disaster operations management
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As industries increasingly focus on sustainability, supply chain operations are at the forefront of this shift. This Special Issue explores topics related to integrating circular economy principles, logistics optimization strategies, and reducing carbon footprints and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. This issue aims to support the industries by transforming their businesses to achieve a circular economy and sustainable development. It covers both manufacturing and service industries.
The circular economy, promoting the reuse, recycling, and regeneration of materials, offers great potential for creating more resilient and responsible supply chains. We will examine applications of circular economy models in service industries, such as hospitality and tourism (but not limited to), where efficient resource use, waste reduction, and sustainable management can significantly enhance environmental outcomes. With high resource consumption and operational complexity, these sectors provide valuable case studies for integrating sustainability into supply chain practices.
Logistics optimization is another focus, emphasizing innovative, technology-driven approaches to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability. The humanitarian supply chain, particularly in emergency relief operations and related fields like healthcare logistics, disaster preparedness, and development aid, provides key insights into maintaining flexible, responsive, and efficient supply chains. These sectors highlight how supply chains can remain adaptable while ensuring effective resource distribution during crises.
While reducing carbon footprints and GHG emissions is a major aspect of ESG, this Special Issue welcomes studies that address ESG principles more broadly. Contributions to green logistics, energy-efficient technologies, and strategies for aligning supply chain operations with sustainability goals, particularly from resource-intensive service industries, will enrich the discussion on carbon neutrality and broader sustainability challenges.
We encourage submissions that span a variety of approaches, including empirical research, theoretical studies, and case-based insights from different industries and regions. The focus is to offer a comprehensive discussion on how supply chains across sectors can evolve towards greater sustainability without limiting the scope to specific frameworks, industries, or methodologies.
Dr. Muhammad Omair
Dr. Muhammad Salman Habib
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. Sustainability 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.
Keywords
- supply chain operations management
- circular economy
- logistics optimization
- humanitarian supply chains
- ESG frameworks
- carbon footprint reduction
- GHG emissions
- sustainable supply chains in service industries (tourism, hospitality, etc.)
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.
