Assessment of supply chain sustainability of bio-composite materials (English shop)

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Industrial processes are currently based on considerable consumption of fossil resources. Bringing down the level of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere when extracting and processing these kind of resources has been main driver for the development of fossil resources substitutes and for the adoption of strategies to promote their efficient use. To increase business competitiveness, to optimize the supply chain, and to increment product quality, decision-makers of the horticulture segment face the problem to choose between fossil-based resources and their substitutes. This dissertation presents an Operations Research model, developed for decision-making support in horticulture. The model determines optimal mixture of growth substrate (composed by peat and olive-mill waste compost) and optimal material of planter container (made of petroleum-based plastic or biodegradable, biopolymer), such that additional costs when substituting and environmental impacts of a potted plant are simultaneously minimized. The optimization model is applied to a case study in Italy. Here, greenhouse gases emitted by organic compounds are detected with experimental trials, the agronomic quality of potted plants is investigated, Life Cycle Assessment is performed, and decision-relevant costs are examined. The bi-objective problem is addressed using Pareto optimization. Finally, a scenario analysis investigates the variation of the outcomes by using different input parameters, in order to give a broader image of optimal solutions.

Industrial production systems are currently based on a considerable consumption of fossil resources. Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere during the extraction and processing of these resources is a main driver for the development of substitutes for fossil raw materials and for the implementation of strategies that promote the efficient use of these substitutes. In order to strengthen business competitiveness, optimize the supply chain and increase product quality, decision-makers in the horticultural sector face the problem of choosing between fossil resources and their substitutes. In this dissertation, an Operations Research model is developed to support decision-making for companies in the horticultural sector. The model determines the optimal mixture of growth substrate (composed of peat and compost from olive-mill waste) and the optimal material for the planter container (petroleum-based plastic or biodegradable biopolymer), such that the decision-relevant costs and emissions of a potted plant are simultaneously minimized. The optimization model is applied to a case study in Italy. In doing so, greenhouse gas emissions from compost are recorded by means of experiments, the agronomic quality of potted plants is investigated, a Life Cycle Assessment is carried out, and decision-relevant costs are examined. Pareto-optimal solutions are found for the bi-objective problem. Finally, the response of the results to the use of different input parameters is investigated by means of a scenario analysis, in order to obtain a broader picture of the optimal solutions.