Optimal design of forest supply chain considering efficient residues and byproducts reuse

Abstract

Forest supply chain includes different actors which work together to obtain many products through a set of processes that must be efficiently integrated. Nevertheless, the great number of involved elements and the available production alternatives hinder to attain an optimal supply chain design. A key element to achieve this objective is the adequate utilization of residues and byproducts that abound in these industries. Nowadays, the production of bioethanol from forest raw materials is also a new option that must be addressed in the context of the supply chain. Taking into account the particular conditions of the forest industry in Argentina, a mixed integer linear programming formulation is proposed in order to attain the optimal design of the forest supply chain, emphasizing the appropriate use of residues and byproducts and the production of bioethanol from these raw materials.