Agent-Based Model for End-of-Life Product Flow Analysis

Authored by Alexandre Labelle, Jean-Marc Frayret

Date Published: 2018

DOI: 10.3390/resources7030042

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: AnyLogic

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

This paper presents an agent-based simulation model for end-of-life product flow analysis in recuperation and recycling supply networks that focuses on individual consumer behaviors. The simulation model is applied to a deposit-return program on wine bottles that could be developed in the province of Quebec. Canadian data was used to calibrate and validate the model. A series of experiments was then conducted with three artificial populations to analyse how they would react to several implementation scenarios of this end-of-life product flow strategy. The results suggest that the distance to the nearest depot is an important decision factor, but less predominant than the ownership of a private vehicle and the deposit value. The results also indicate that the use of agent-based modeling combined with the theory of planned behavior (TPB) can produce modular behavior models, that are intuitive and simple, to better understand consumer-behavior-driven supply chains. Such models can be used to give insights to decision-makers and policy-makers about the potential performance of end-of-life product flows strategies and further facilitate efficient resource management.

Tags

Simulation Agent-based modeling Consumer Behavior systems Attitudes Metaanalysis Planned behavior Pro-environmental behavior Collection Recycling Municipal solid waste Deposit-return program End-of-life product flow Solid-waste management Recycling behavior Cycle assessment