Blockchain-enabled integrated three-layer bio-circular economy model with wastewater treatment, emissions, and controlled cheese spoilage

Regulatory and market forces compel companies to integrate transparency and sustainability into their operations. In response to the pressing need, the study proposes a blockchain-enabled, sustainable, integrated three-layer inventory model for the cheese industry under carbon cap-and-trade policy. The ultimate aim is to maximize the integrated total profit of the system with optimal investment in green technology. Prior studies have neglected to account for blockchain costs and spoilage rate control, whereas our findings demonstrate that strategic investments in preservation technology yield substantial reductions in spoilage rates. Results indicate that the downstream end of the supply chain, retail, also plays a crucial role in maintaining total profitability, indicating the significance of collective inventory management along with sustainability initiatives. This study concludes that technology-driven sustainability initiatives, coupled with effective spoilage management, can optimize sustainability outcomes in the cheese supply chain without compromising financial performance.