Prioritizing barriers to cleaner production in biodegradable tableware manufacturing: A hybrid Fuzzy Delphi-ZBWM framework for circular economy transitions in emerging economies

The escalating environmental burdens of conventional plastic waste have intensified interest in biodegradable alternatives and cleaner production systems. However, large-scale adoption of biodegradable tableware manufacturing in emerging economies remains constrained by multiple barriers. This study develops an integrated framework to identify, validate, and prioritize these barriers, providing actionable insights for circular economy transitions. A two-stage hybrid methodology is employed. First, the Fuzzy Delphi Method screens and validates relevant barriers based on expert consensus. Second, the Z-Number Best-Worst Method (ZBWM) prioritizes validated barriers while incorporating both uncertainty and reliability of expert judgments—a critical advantage over conventional fuzzy MCDM approaches. Application of the proposed framework to the Iranian biodegradable tableware sector—as a representative case of an emerging economy—reveals that economic barriers are the most significant obstacles. Specifically, high machinery acquisition costs (0.1282) rank first, followed by limited access to international markets (0.1255) and inadequate production infrastructure (0.1243).Technological and institutional constraints further compound these challenges. This study contributes methodologically by validating the Fuzzy Delphi-ZBWM integration for complex sustainability problems under uncertainty. For materials researchers, it provides a priority map of industrial barriers that should inform R&D direction—particularly the need for biopolymers with broader processing windows, compatibility with existing equipment, and utilization of locally available feedstocks. Practically, it offers a structured evidence base for designing targeted cleaner production interventions—including green financing, export promotion, and infrastructure development—to support resource efficiency, waste reduction, and circular material flows in bio-based manufacturing within emerging economies.