A multi-objective model for sustainable closed-loop supply chain of perishable products under two carbon emission regulations

Purpose This paper aims to minimize the total carbon emissions and costs and also maximize the total social benefits. Design/methodology/approach The present study develops a mathematical model for a closed-loop supply chain network of perishable products so that considers the vital aspects of sustainability across the life cycle of the supply chain network. To evaluate carbon emissions, two different regulating policies are studied. Findings According to the obtained results, increasing the lifetime of the perishable products improves the incorporated objective function (IOF) in both the carbon cap-and-trade model and the model with a strict cap on carbon emission while the solving time increases in both models. Moreover, the computational efficiency of the carbon cap-and-trade model is higher than that of the model with a strict cap, but its value of the IOF is worse. Results indicate that efficient policies for carbon management will support planners to achieve sustainability in a cost-effectively manner. Originality/value This research proposes a mathematical model for the sustainable closed-loop supply chain of perishable products that applies the significant aspects of sustainability across the life cycle of the supply chain network. Regional economic value, regional development, unemployment rate and the number of job opportunities created in the regions are considered as the social dimension.

CFD Modelling of the Thermal Performance of Fruit Packaging Boxes—Influence of Vent-Holes Design

The shelf life of perishable products depends mainly on the conservation of air temperature. Packaging boxes are usually used to accommodate food products during cold storage and transport and/or display. The design of the vent-holes of the packaging box must promote cold airflow and remove the field heat of the produce after harvest at a short time. This study describes the influence of the vent-holes design and its performance during cold storage. The cooling performance of the different packaging boxes is evaluated experimentally and numerically using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Three new packaging box configurations with the same size but different vent-holes design (size, shape and position) and a reference box are modelled. The transient three-dimensional CFD model predicts the airflow pattern and temperature distribution within the different packaging boxes. The best thermal performance packaging achieved a fruit model temperature 1.5 K to 5 K lower than the other configurations at the end of 8 h of cooling. These predictions allow the development of new packaging box designs that promote the shelf-life extension of perishable products.

The effect of packaging materials and an ethylene absorber on the preservation of сilantro

Кориандр овощной, как и все зеленные культуры, относится к скоропортящейся продукции, которая быстро теряет свои товарные качества. Для продления срока хранения зелени кориандра необходим альтернативный способ хранения. В 2020–2021 годах проведены исследования по изучению влияния упаковочных материалов (в том числе пакетов Xtend израильской компании StePac, создающих модифицированную атмосферу), используемых в комплексе с абсорбером этилена (саше) на основе перманганата калия Save Fresh, на изменение органолептических и биохимических показателей качества кориандра овощного сорта Бородинский при различных условиях хранения. Свежие листья кориандра упаковывали в полиэтиленовые пакеты плотностью 15 и 35 мкм, размером 36×25 см и массой 300 г и в пакеты Xtend, размером 66×54 см и массой 800 г. Контролем служили образцы, уложенные в открытый полимерный ящик. Хранили продукцию в течение пяти суток при температуре 10–12 °С, 14 суток при температуре 4–6 °С и 21 сутки при температуре 1–3 °С в холодильной камере с контролируемыми условиями. Относительная влажность воздуха – 90±3%. Максимальный выход товарной продукции кориандра отмечен при использовании упаковки Xtend МА/МВ с абсорбером этилена Save Fresh: при хранении в течение 5 суток при температуре 10–12 °C – 95,7%, 14 суток при 4–6 °C – 94,3%, 21 суток при 1–3 °С – 91,7%. Максимальное сохранение витамина С в продукции зафиксировано в варианте с Xtend-упаковкой – 33,8 мг% при показателе 40,1 мг% сразу после срезки зелени. Использование Xtend-упаковки израильской фирмы StePac, создающей модифицированную атмосферу/модифицированную влажность вместе с абсорбером этилена на основе перманганата калия Save Fresh, позволяет снизить потери и обеспечить сохранение качества зелени кориандра овощного сорта Бородинский в процессе транспортировки, хранения и реализации. Cilantro, like all green crops, refers to perishable products that quickly lose their marketable qualities. To extend the shelf life of cilantro greens, an alternative storage method is needed. In 2020–2021, studies were conducted to study the influence of packaging materials (including Xtend packages of the Israeli company StePac, which create a modified atmosphere) used in combination with an ethylene absorber (sachet) based on potassium permanganate Save Fresh, on the change in organoleptic and biochemical quality indicators of cilantro of the vegetable variety Borodinsky under various storage conditions. Fresh cilantro leaves were packed in plastic bags with a density of 15 and 35 microns, a size of 36×25 cm and a weight of 300 g and the Xtend packages, measuring 66×54 cm and weighing 800 g. The samples placed in an open polymer box served as a control. The products were stored for five days at a temperature of 10–12 °C, 14 days at a temperature of 4–6 °C and 21 days at a temperature of 1–3 °C in a refrigerator with controlled conditions. The relative humidity of the air is 90±3%. The maximum yield of commercial cilantro products is noted when using Xtend MA packaging/MH with an ethylene absorber Save Fresh: when stored for 5 days at a temperature of 10–12 °C – 95.7%, 14 days at 4–6 °C – 94.3%, 21 days at 1–3 °C – 91.7%. The maximum preservation of vitamin C in products is recorded in the Xtend packaging variant – 33.8 mg% with an indicator of 40.1 mg% immediately after cutting the greens. The use of Xtend packaging from the Israeli company StePac, which creates a modified atmosphere/modified humidity, together with an ethylene absorber based on potassium permanganate Save Fresh, allows you to reduce losses and ensure the preservation of the quality of cilantro greens of the Borodinsky vegetable variety during transportation, storage and sale.

Simulation of different reordering policies for optimizing the inventory of perishable food: an Italian case study

Inventory management represents one of the main criticalities that companies have to face. The challenge is twofold: being able to satisfy a demand whose behavior can significantly vary and be unpredictable in order to avoid stock-out situations, whilst limiting excessive stocks and consequently costs. Some factors can complicate this already inherently difficult task. An example is the presence of constraints on the time for storage, which is the typical case for perishable products such as food and beverages, core business of the Italian company subject of the case study described in this paper. To optimize the reorder process in that context, a simulation model was developed for evaluating the potentials of three traditional reordering policies (i.e., Re-Order Point, Re-Order Interval, and (s, S)) to be applied to a set of products managed by the company, including perishable items, and for testing their performance. The items tested were selected through a preliminary ABC analysis, carried out on the volumes handled. A comparison with the current performance of the company’s and that achievable with the optimized policies is proposed.