An ESG-Integrated Decision Framework for Reusable Plastic Container Pooling Supplier Selection in the Sharing Economy

The transition to a circular economy has increased the significance of reusable plastic container (RPC) pooling systems in green logistics. These systems are third-party reliant; selecting an appropriate service provider becomes crucial, particularly when measured against Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. This study proposes a novel decision-making paradigm that incorporates ESG considerations into the evaluation process of RPC pooling service providers through an SF-RANCOM-ARLON (Spherical Fuzzy Sets-Ranking Comparison-Alternative Ranking Using Two-Step Logarithmic Normalization) hybrid method. A real-world case study involving multiple RPC service providers is presented to ensure that the proposed framework is appropriate. It determined 13 sub-criteria under 4 essential headings in the direction of assessing. Not only does this approach provide decision-makers with a methodical and unbiased approach for selecting the leading RPC pooling service provider within an uncertain environment, but it also helps in determining the necessary criteria for RPC pooling service provider selection. Based on rankings, the most critical criteria for service provider selection are delivery reliability, service flexibility, and customer relationship management, while less emphasis is placed on information disclosure. This research contributes to the emerging discourse on ESG-integrated supplier selection and offers a decision-support tool adaptable for sustainability-oriented supply chain networks.