Green Logistics - Overview

Last Updated on Monday, 23 March 2009 18:51

This theme is concerned with the challenges to OR posed by the production and distribution of goods in a sustainable way, taking account of environmental and social factors.

Increasing interest in green issues from industry, government and the general public ensures that this will remain a key social concern for the foreseeable future. Innovative new OR models and methodologies are needed to underpin new processes and to incorporate new environmentally friendly objectives. A far reaching and rigorous programme of foundational green logistics which cuts across a wide spectrum of application areas will enable us to better understand environmental risk factors and the associated costs, benefits and trade-offs.

A deeper understanding of such issues will enable stakeholders to make more informed decisions. Our initiative will develop the mathematical models and solution methods needed to meet these challenges. An example of a relevant cross-disciplinary and cross institutional project is represented by Reverse Logistics, where the aim is to analyze the use of recycled materials at different stages of a production process. Another example is provided by Waste Management, where mathematical and computational models of household waste collection can be considered that address the types of waste and the types of collection vehicles.

Please also see: http://www.greenlogistics.org/