A Multiobjective Optimization Approach for the Development of a Sustainable Supply Chain of a New Fixative in the Perfume Industry

Ambrox is an important fixative used in the manufacture of perfumes. It is obtained through complex chemical synthesis routes with high costs. Recent research efforts at the Institute of Chemical and Biological Researches at the Universidad Michoacana have led to the one-step synthesis of Ambrox from extracts of Ageratina jocotepecana (an endemic plant of the State of Michoacán in Mexico). This new chemical route is attractive from a manufacturing perspective. However, there are several challenges for the industrial application of this plant and its incorporation in the supply chain of the perfume industry. This paper presents a multiobjective optimization approach for the development and assessment of the supply chain of Ageratina jocotepecana to account for its growth in current and reclaimed lands, distribution, processing to yield Ambrox, and distribution of products. The approach accounts for the economic, environmental, and social aspects and establishes systematic trade-offs. A case study is solved to consider the supply chain and the trade-offs of the multiple objectives.