Scientific mapping and research perspectives of the vehicle routing problem: An approach from sustainability strategies

• A 21 % annual increase in publications on VRP and sustainability has occurred since 2013. • China and the U.S. lead international collaboration in sustainable VRP research. • 90 % of top VRP and sustainability publications come from Q1 European journals. • The TOS methodology effectively identifies, classifies, and analyzes scientific documents. • Yong Wang has the most publications; Gilbert Laporte leads in citations and H-index. • Three key research clusters were identified in electric vehicles and logistics. • Future VRP research includes optimization, sustainability, and Industry 4.0 integration. The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) not only poses a fundamental challenge in logistics and operations management but also plays a crucial role in mitigating environmental impact through the optimization of efficient and sustainable routes. The scientometric development proceeded in two stages: scientific mapping and network construction. In the first stage, a bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in Scopus from 2000 to March 2024 was conducted using the PRISMA and Tree of Sciences (TOS) methodology, selecting 364 relevant documents on "sustainable" and "Vehicle Routing Problem". Recommended bibliometric procedures were applied, and Bibliometrix tools were utilized to integrate bibliographic information. In the second stage, a citation network was constructed using graph theory to identify key documents and research trends, analyzing indicators such as Indegree, Betweenness, and Outdegree. The results indicated a significant increase in publications on VRP and sustainability since 2013, highlighting international collaboration and the leadership of China and the United States. Key authors and journals in the field were also identified. Finally, research clusters were developed on electric vehicle routing optimization, optimization methods, routing problems, and logistical challenges, underscoring the cooperation between enterprises and sustainable logistics as key areas for future research.