Green distribution center model: environmentally friendly and operational efficiency using a process approach and a taboo search metaheuristics

Abstract

This article is intended to develop and validate a green distribution center model consisting of three components: a management module; a warehouse management system (WMS); and a metaheuristics. As a result of the validation of the model at a Distribution Center of a medium-size food company, a reduction of CO₂ emissions was achieved, equivalent to 731 kg/month or 37% of issues for preparation of orders. Additionally, the modeling of a Taboo Search metaheuristics was developed to resolve the routing problem for the preparation of orders; this allowed increasing the operation efficiency in about 18.83% and to obtain a reduction of 198 kg of equivalent CO₂ per month. Therefore, the green distribution center model, simultaneously, increased the efficiency and reduced the amount of kilograms of CO₂, using an approach that had not been addressed in literature for this logistic process.