As sustainability challenges intensify, traditional linear supply chains, where products move in only one direction towards customers, are no longer sufficient. Companies increasingly face uncertainty in supply and demand, as well as disruptions in production and logistics. This makes it challenging to maintain stable material flows, particularly in circular systems that aim to reuse and recycle resources.

In the project Robust (re)Design of Material Flow in Circular Networks (N2-0486), researchers develop methods to better design and manage material flow in circular networks (CNs). In such networks, materials not only move from producers to users but also circulate back into the system through reuse and recycling. The project focuses on jointly optimizing forward and reverse material flows under uncertain conditions while accounting for variations in material quantity and quality.

The main objective of the project is to develop a general modelling framework that integrates material flow design with uncertainties in supply and demand, as well as disturbances affecting production processes. Based on this framework, advanced optimization and disruption management methods are developed to improve resilience, support material flow redesign and enable rapid recovery after unexpected events. The developed approaches will be implemented and tested in an open-source simulation environment using a case study from the wood industry. At the same time, the methods are designed to be broadly applicable across other circular industry sectors, helping companies manage resources more efficiently and reduce waste.

The project (N2-0486) began in March 2026 and will run until February 2029. It is led by Dr. Balazs David and funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS). Project partners include InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM and the HUN-REN Institute for Computer Science and Control.

Expected outcomes include the development of robust methods for designing and managing circular networks, improved strategies for handling disruptions, and validated solutions demonstrated in a simulation environment. The results are expected to contribute to more resilient, efficient, and better-managed circular systems across multiple industrial sectors.

Authors: Lara Prah, Dr. Lea Primožič, Dr. David Balazs