Work

Enhancing circular economy through industrial symbiosis: An agent-based simulation analysis of supply chain dynamics

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Industrial Symbiosis is recognized in the international context as a useful approach to move toward a Circular Economy. Here, the use of resources in industrial systems is improved, since waste and by-products generated by a firm are upcycled and used as input by other firms, reducing raw material extraction and waste sent to landfills. This work presents an analysis of the dynamic performance when an industrial symbiosis is implemented between two supply chains, where one represents the supplier of the other. Specifically, using the agent-based modeling simulation approach, the behavior and dynamics of the symbiotic supply chain are evaluated in different scenarios by adopting key performance indicators, such as the efficiency of symbiotic exchange, the environmental index, and the bullwhip effect. Based on our analysis, we provide useful managerial suggestions to create supportive and collaborative supply chains to support the Circular Economy.

Source: Sustainable Operations and Computers

DOI: 10.1016/j.susoc.2025.03.002

Authors: Rebecca Fussone, Caterina Sammatrice, Salvatore Cannella, Roberto Dominguez

Institutions: University of Catania, Universidad de Sevilla

Language: English

Topic: Sustainable Industrial Ecology

Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $700