Advancing Circular Supply Chains: Integrating Logistics, Supply Chain Management and Circular Economy Practices

A special issue of Logistics (ISSN 2305-6290). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Supply Chains and Logistics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 August 2025 | Viewed by 1420

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University Leicester, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Interests: operations research (OR); decision-making; supply chain optimization; waste supply chain management; end-of-life vehicles management
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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering, Kutahya Dumlupinar University, Kutahya, Turkey
Interests: multicriteria decision making; artificial intelligence (AI); operations research (OR); supply chain optimization; operations management

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Guest Editor
Department of Strategy, Analytics and Operations, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
Interests: optimization (mixed-integer, nonlinear, and heuristics); logistics and supply chain management; production planning; sustainability

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Guest Editor
Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University Leicester, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Interests: business analytics; decision-making; data analytics; operations management; machine learning

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The circular economy represents an economic paradigm designed to eliminate waste and promote the continual use of resources. In contrast to the traditional linear economy, characterized by a ‘take, make, dispose’ model, the circular economy is inherently regenerative. It emphasizes closing product lifecycle loops through enhanced resource efficiency, achieved via the reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling of existing materials and products. Circular supply chains play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable economic growth by minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency. By integrating the principles of the circular economy with logistics and supply chain management (SCM), circular supply chains enable the reuse, refurbishment, and recycling of products and materials. This integration not only mitigates environmental impact but also reduces operational costs and bolsters supply chain resilience. Furthermore, circular supply chains stimulate innovation, generate new business opportunities, and support sustainable consumption and production patterns. In an era where sustainability is increasingly prioritized, circular supply chains are indispensable for companies striving for long-term success and favorable environmental and social outcomes.

This Special Issue focuses on the convergence of circular supply chains, logistics, and SCM within the context of the circular economy. It seeks to investigate innovative strategies, practices, and technologies that facilitate the transition from traditional linear supply chains to sustainable, circular models. The primary objective is to enhance our understanding of how integrating logistics and SCM principles can advance the adoption of circular economy practices. This issue aims to illuminate the benefits, challenges, and best practices associated with circular supply chains, providing a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners dedicated to promoting sustainability in supply chain operations.

Authors are warmly encouraged to submit original research papers, review articles, empirical studies, and case studies (for educational purposes) for this Special Issue of Logistics by 05 August 2025. Submissions can cover but are not limited to the following topics:

  • Strategies for designing products for disassembly and recycling;
  • Challenges and solutions in reverse logistics;
  • Case studies of successful closed-loop systems;
  • Methods for reclaiming materials from end-of-life products;
  • Strategies for sourcing sustainable materials;
  • The impact of IoT, blockchain, and AI on circular supply chains;
  • Exploring new business models such as product-as-a-service;
  • The economic implications of circular business models;
  • The impact of regulations on circular supply chain practices;
  • Engaging consumers in circular supply chain initiatives;
  • Tools and frameworks for assessing circular supply chain performance;
  • Strategies for managing the transition from linear to circular models.

Examples can be found at the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/logistics/special_issues/scm_automation

We look forward to receiving valuable submissions with great anticipation.

Dr. Selman Karagöz
Dr. Derya Deliktas
Dr. Ramez Kian
Dr. Emrah Bilgic
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. Logistics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1400 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

  • circular supply chain
  • circular economy
  • sustainable supply chain management
  • reverse logistics
  • supply chain resilience
  • closed-loop supply chain
  • digital technologies in SCM
  • supply chain optimization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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25 pages, 2762 KiB  
Systematic Review
Leveraging Machine Learning for Advancing Circular Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review
by Zeinab Farshadfar, Tomasz Mucha and Kari Tanskanen
Logistics 2024, 8(4), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics8040108 - 21 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1135
Abstract
Background: Circular supply chains (CSCs) aim to minimize waste, extend product lifecycles, and optimize resource efficiency, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable practices. Machine learning (ML) can potentially enhance CSCs by improving resource management, optimizing processes, and addressing complexities inherent in [...] Read more.
Background: Circular supply chains (CSCs) aim to minimize waste, extend product lifecycles, and optimize resource efficiency, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable practices. Machine learning (ML) can potentially enhance CSCs by improving resource management, optimizing processes, and addressing complexities inherent in CSCs. ML can be a powerful tool to support CSC operations by offering data-driven insights and enhancing decision-making capabilities. Methods: This paper conducts a systematic literature review, analyzing 66 relevant studies to examine the role of ML across various stages of CSCs, from supply and manufacturing to waste management. Results: The findings reveal that ML contributes significantly to CSC performance, improving supplier selection, operational optimization, and waste reduction. ML-driven approaches in manufacturing, consumer behavior forecasting, logistics, and waste management enable companies to optimize resources and minimize waste. Integrating ML with emerging technologies such as IoT, blockchain, and computer vision further enhances CSC operations, fostering transparency and automation. Conclusions: ML applications in CSCs align with broader sustainability goals, contributing to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The review identifies opportunities for future research, such as the development of real-world case studies further to enhance the effects of ML on CSC efficiency. Full article
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