An optimization model to support the design of a supply chain for packaging returnability

End-of-life packaging management has driven circular economy (CE) initiatives worldwide, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This policy establishes metrics for producer responsibility in the post-consumer stage, which can be managed through individual or collective models, the latter known as Producer Responsibility Organization. The implementation of packaging returnability strategies within the framework of EPR, and their management through a producers’ organizations, implies several challenges at the level of the design and configuration of the supply chain. These challenges include compliance with environmental regulations, system definition, and facility location, among others. The literature review highlights a gap in studies addressing this design problem with a focus on primary packaging, which is the packaging directly delivered to the end customer, and the relation of the actors within the system. Therefore, this article proposes a multi-period, multi-product Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model for the design of reverse logistics network in returnable packaging systems, implemented in GurobiPy and solved using the Gurobi 10.0 solver. The model supports strategic and tactical decision-making for the design and operation of a returnable packaging system, such as those for beer bottles, managed by a producer organization within the framework of EPR policies. The formulated model is validated through a practical case study conducted in Colombia. The results show the model’s ability to generate information that supports decision-making and clarifies the relationships between operational parameters and external variables, and among the actors in the system.