OPTIMAL SUPPLY CHAIN DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

This thesis focuses on optimising supply chains in four key areas critical to achieving sustainability goals: Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), Direct Air Capture and Sequestration (DACCS), Mixed Plastic Waste (MPW) management, and Critical Raw Material (CRM) recycling. Using mixed integer linear programming (MILP) models, it addresses the optimal design within each sector. For CCS, the multi-objective optimisation considers both cost and seismic risks, highlighting trade-offs between safety and economic efficiency. In DACCS, a robust MILP model accounts for cost uncertainties and ambient conditions, forecasting significant cost reductions by 2050. The MPW framework balances profit and environmental impact, showing that pyrolysis is the most sustainable method despite reduced profits. For CRM recycling, the study optimises facility location and capacity, shifting reliance from mining to recycling. These novel contributions offer valuable insights for policymakers and researchers, supporting the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future.