A sustainable circular economic supply chain system with waste minimization using 3D printing and emissions reduction in plastic reforming industry

A circular supply chain consists of emission and wastes minimization technologies with a remarkable gain in profit, which is the aim of any industry that is concerned about environmental conservation. One of the most critical hurdles to the transition to sustainability is waste management. This study proposes a circular sustainable integrated model in a plastic reforming industry with investment in 3D printing techniques to minimize waste, emission reduction, and ordering cost reduction and it led to optimal profit. The customer's demand and the unit profit depend on the circularity index of the item. This paper looked at three scenarios with partial backlogging: (a) linear demand versus linear unit profit; (b) linear demand versus exponential unit profit; and (c) linear demand versus logistic unit profit. An algorithm was used to optimize the profit of the plastic reforming industry with optimal values of ordering quantity, circularity index, and investment in waste minimization, emission reduction, and ordering cost under carbon cap policy. This model establishes that the plastic reforming industry will get more profit and an optimal level of circularity index when it works with high efficiency of emission and waste minimization technologies under low investment, a rise in the carbon tax, and less opportunity cost. Sensitivity analysis and managerial framework in the plastic reforming industry were given to realize the sensitivity of decision variables with variation in key parameters.