A distribution reverse logistics model design based on green supply chain management

Reverse distribution, or the management of product return flows, induced by various forms of reuse of products and materials, has received growing attention throughout this decade. Growing green concerns and advancement of green supply chain management (GSCM) concepts and practices make it all the more relevant. Built on the concept of GSCM, this paper presents a mathematical programming model for a version of this problem - how to construct a distribution model for reverse logistics. Due to the complexity of the proposed model, we give a heuristic solution methodology for this problem. The solution methodology complements a heuristic concentration procedure, where sub-problems with reduced sets of decision variables are iteratively solved to optimality. Computational tests demonstrate that high-quality solutions are obtained while expending modest computational effort.