A game-theoretic approach to select a channel for supplying required materials in producing a product manufactured from recyclables

In this research, a recyclable waste is used to manufacture a specific product. For this reason, a supply chain is considered containing manufacturer, recycler, and waste warehouse. First, the customers’ demand for the considered product is determined based on its price. Then, the manufacturer produces it from a waste with specific recyclability rate. The waste warehouse collects the waste and the recycler recycles it. The manufacturer meets his requirements through two different channels. He can procure the non-recycled waste from the waste warehouse and then recycles it himself, or can buy the recycled waste from the recycler. The manufacturer selects these channels based on the established situations.

The game theory is applied to make the decisions under two considered channels. In this setting, a Stackelberg game is developed based on the competitive situation established among the members, where the manufacturer has higher decision power than the waste warehouse and recycler.

Eventually, the given strategies are discussed and the obtained results are presented. Results indicate that the manufacturer selects each channel as a threshold is met. Moreover, more recyclability rate of the considered waste leads to higher profits for the members.

Originality/Value:

 In this research, to provide the waste materials required for producing a product, the game-theoretic approach as well as the concept of the channel-selection are used. It can be stated that this issue has been proposed for the first time in the literature.