A NOVEL INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR CIRCULAR SUPPLIER SELECTION: COMBINING FUZZY SIMPLIFIED BEST WORST METHOD (F-SBWM) AND FUZZY DECISION MAKING TRIAL AND EVALUATION LABORATORY (FDEMATEL)

Abstract

With the growing environmental concerns and heightened public awareness, companies face mounting pressure from governmental bodies and stakeholders to adopt eco-friendly practices. This has driven a significant emphasis on incorporating green principles into daily operations. A vital component of this shift towards environmental responsibility is the careful selection of circular suppliers. The Circular Economy concept focuses on reusing, recycling, or repurposing products and materials, reducing waste and environmental impact. Choosing suppliers aligned with this model becomes essential. These suppliers contribute to waste reduction and resource efficiency. Thus, this study delves beyond standard supplier selection, emphasizing alignment with Circular Economy principles. This research introduces a novel integrated approach that integrates the Fuzzy Simplified Best Worst Method (F-SBWM) and Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (FDEMATEL) to determine the weights of criteria and sub criteria while considering the interdependencies among criteria to resolve supplier selection problem. F-SBWM is used to determine the weights of the criteria and sub criteria without considering the Interdependencies among criteria, while FDEMATEL then addresses the inner dependencies among criteria. Subsequently, the Interdependencies is applied on the initially calculated weights to get the final weights which are ultimately used to evaluate the suppliers. This integrated method aims to overcome prior limitations while effectively leveraging their strengths. The research is in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 8, which focuses on promoting decent work and economic growth, and SDG 12, which emphasizes responsible consumption and production. It offers a practical approach for ranking suppliers within the circular supply chain, contributing to sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.