Analysis of the Causal Relationship between Factors Affecting the Management of a Sustainable Supply Chain of Chicken Meat

In this study, using the fuzzy DEMATEL approach, causal relationships between factors and criteria for sustainable chicken meat supply chain management were evaluated from three perspectives: optimistic, pessimistic and moderate. For this purpose, a group of experts was considered for mental responses to these effects in the form of paired comparison questionnaires. In this regard, 16 factors or criteria affecting the sustainable supply chain of chicken meat were extracted by reviewing the literature in this field as well as the opinions of experts. These factors were divided into four categories: critical, effective, dependent and elimination. The results of causal evaluation showed that in the optimistic view most of these factors are critical and in the pessimistic view most of the factors are elimination type. The results showed that the growth of profits from the implementation of sustainable supply chain, the cost of material recycling in the process of sustainable supply chain and investment of environmental protection in the process of sustainable supply chain are three factors that are critical in all three perspectives: optimistic, pessimistic and moderate. Recycling of resources used in the sustainable supply chain process is also one of the variables affecting other factors. Accordingly, government support for the development of new technologies, the development of logistics infrastructure and increasing energy and water productivity along the chicken supply chain not only can increase profits, but also reduce recycling costs and expand environmental investment.