A circular economy approach to design a citrus supply chain network

In the past decade, the implementation of the circular economy has emerged as a compelling alternative to the linear model, proving effective in addressing critical global challenges such as climate change, population growth, and the depletion of non-renewable resources. Integrating the circular economy into supply chain networks results in the formation of a circular supply chain. Regrettably, many industries, including agriculture, have not fully embraced this valuable approach within their supply chain networks. This study addresses this gap by presenting an integrated circular supply chain network designed specifically for citrus fruits. The proposed model is grounded in the fundamental principles of the circular economy, leveraging both closed and open loops simultaneously. To address the complexities, a set of exact and metaheuristic methods is employed. In contrast to previous works, a comprehensive comparison of circular, closed-loop, and linear supply network structures is undertaken. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is performed on key parameters. The model achieves significant milestones: firstly, a zero-waste outcome by eliminating waste in plastic crate usage and fruit residuals; secondly, an impressive 42% reduction in water consumption compared to traditional linear models. Environmental sustainability is further demonstrated by a 3% reduction in carbon emissions within the circular model. Importantly, these achievements do not compromise economic efficiency, as the circular supply chain showcases a nearly 1% decrease in total costs compared to its linear counterparts.