Explore the vast range of titles available.

Third-party logistic provider (3PLP) companies play a major role in supply chain management (SCM) by carrying out specialized functions—namely, integrated operation, warehousing, and transportation services. Taking sustainability issues into consideration makes reverse logistics even more significant. In this paper, a combination of sustainability and risk factors was considered for third-party reverse logistic provider (3PRLP) evaluation. Initially, fuzzy step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (Fuzzy SWARA) was applied for weighing the evaluation criteria; then, Fuzzy multi-objective optimization on the basis of ratio analysis (Fuzzy MOORA) was utilized for ranking the sustainable third-party reverse logistic providers in the plastic industry in the second step. Findings highlight that quality, recycling, health, and safety were the most important criteria in economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability, respectively. Also, operational risk was found to have the highest weight among risk factors.

The recycling of retired new energy vehicle power batteries produces economic benefits and promotes the sustainable development of environment and society. However, few attentions have been paid to the design and optimization of sustainable reverse logistics network for the recycling of retired power batteries. To this end, we develop a six-level sustainable dynamic reverse logistics network model from the perspectives of economy, environment, and society. We solve the multi-objective combinatorial optimization model to explore the layout of the sustainable reverse logistics network for retired new energy vehicle power batteries recycling. A case study is implemented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model. The results show that (a) the facility nodes near the front of the network fluctuate more by opening and closing; (b) the dynamic reverse logistics network is superior to its static counterpart; and (c) cooperation cost changes affect the transaction volume between third-party and cooperative enterprises and total network cost.

Purpose Plastics waste management is a critical agenda for the global community. Recycling is the most important strategy option for recovering plastics wastes. This study aims to review reverse logistics (RL) implementation practices and conceptualizing it to the plastic recycling system. Design/methodology/approach The paper is organized after evaluating the studies related to plastics waste recycling and analyzing the available frameworks to use RL as a strategic tool. Findings The paper has investigated that previous research on RL implementation focused on a few stages of RL activities and did not include the most important issues. However, for successful RL implementation, taking into account the whole stage and including the most important factors is very important. To elaborate on this finding a new conceptual framework is developed. Research limitations/implications The paper is fully based on literature review and international reports. The developed framework is required for further empirical validation in the plastics sector. Practical implications The paper has considered the important issues and the applications of those factors that can improve plastics recycling performances. Social implications This study can enhance the active involvement of main actors (plastics producers, users, municipal and recyclers) in the plastics recycling system. Originality/value This paper deliberates on how RL can be conceptualized and implemented in plastics recycling systems in considering the most important factors for plastics recycling.

Purpose: This paper aims to propose a framework to define the facility layout problem (FLP) in a bi-directional logistics (BL) context, specifically highlighting the main factors that enterprises must consider when reverse flow is introduced in forward logistics (FL).Design/methodology/approach: A characterization of the problem is proposed based on outstanding works that define similar problems in the bibliography and main characteristics identification in FLP through a bibliographic review. Aspects to consider for BL are distinguished and classified.Findings: Research findings indicate that BL is an unexplored term. There are no articles that connect BL with FLP, there is an unaddressed gap.Research limitations/implications: Founded articles refer to reverse logistics (RL) characteristics the ones about BL.Practical implications: Academic and practical implications of this article include understanding the importance of FLP in the BL context, identifying the impact of factors such as material, machinery, labour, among others.Originality/value: This article proposes an opening to study the impact of BL in the FLP for enterprises.

The paper aims to present a multi-product, multi-stage, multi-period, and multi-objective, probabilistic mixed-integer linear programming model for a sustainable forward and reverse logistics network problem. It looks at original and return products to determine both flows in the supply chain—forward and reverse—simultaneously. Besides, to establish centres of forward and reverse logistics activities and make a decision for transportation strategy in a more close-to-real manner, the demand is considered uncertain. We attempt to represent all major dimensions in the objective functions: First objective function is minimizing the processing, transportation, fixed establishing cost and costs of CO2 emission as environmental impacts. Furthermore, the processing time of reverse logistics activities is developed as the second objective function. Finally, in the third objective function, it is tried to maximize social responsibility. Indeed, a complete sustainable approach is developed in this paper. In addition, this model provides novel environmental constraint and social matters in the objective functions as its innovation and contribution. Another contribution of this paper is using probabilistic programming to manage uncertain parameters. Moreover, a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is configured to achieve Pareto front solutions. The performance of the NSGA-II is compared with a multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) by proposing 10 appropriate test problems according to five comparison metrics using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to validate the modeling approach. Overall, according to the results of ANOVA and the comparison metrics, the performance of NSGA-II algorithm is more satisfying compared with that of MOPSO algorithm.

The objective of this study was to apply simulation and genetic algorithms for the economic and environmental optimization of the reverse network (manufacturers, waste managers, and recyclers in Sao Paulo, Brazil) of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to promote the circular economy. For the economic evaluation, the reduction in fuel, drivers, insurance, depreciation, maintenance, and charges was considered. For the environmental evaluation, the impact of abiotic, biotic, water, land, air, and greenhouse gases was measured. It was concluded that the optimized structure of the WEEE reverse chains for Sao Paulo, Brazil provided a reduction in the number of collections, thus making the most of cubage. It also generated economic and environmental gains, contributing to the strategic actions of the circular economy. Therefore, the proposed approach is replicable in organizational practice, which is mainly required to meet the 2030 agenda of reducing the carbon footprint generated by transport in large cities. Thus, this study can guide companies in structuring the reverse WEEE chains in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and other states and countries for economic and environmental optimization, which is an aspect of great relevance considering the exponential generation of WEEE.

Reverse logistics has become a competitive need for sustainability. Lack of resources to apply reverse logistics solutions has severely impacted many supply chains’ costs and customer service, making it impossible to meet the expectations of return processing. In those conditions, client demands for higher service quality are the main drivers of effective sustainability operations. This study aims to establish the sustainable reverse logistics service quality (SRLSQ) theoretical framework offered by reverse logistics services providers (RLSPs). The study conducts a systematic methodology protocol by examining reliable academic periodicals using PRISMA guidelines based on the research scope and identified 56 papers from 2011–2022, with the main research focus on SSQ and RLSQ dimensions to develop a research framework. By re-evaluating those factors using the SRLSQ framework and by including sustainability into the service quality approach, this study expanded the practicability of reverse logistic service quality and sustainable service quality. The results point to a knowledge gap when it comes to quantifying the impact of reverse logistics operation process through a triple bottom line approach on customer outcomes, relationship quality (RQ), and mediation of operation risk factor, which could be examined within various contexts in subsequent work.

PurposeReverse logistics (RL) is a type of supply chain management that moves goods from the end customer to the original manufacturer for reuse, remanufacturing and disposal purposes. Owing to growing environmental legislations and the development of new technologies in marketing, RL has attracted more significance among experts and academicians. Outsourcing RL practices to third-party reverse logistics provider (3PRLP) has been identified as one of the most important management strategies due to complexity of RL operations and the lack of available resource. Current sustainability trends have made 3PRLP assessment and selection process more complex. In order to select the 3PRLP, the existence of several aspects of sustainability motivates the experts to establish a new multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach.Design/methodology/approachWith the growing complexity and high uncertainty of decision environments, the preference values of 3PRLPs are not always expressed with real numbers. As the generalized version of fuzzy set, intuitionistic fuzzy set and Fermatean fuzzy set, the theory of q-rung orthopair fuzzy set (q-ROFS) is used to permit decision experts (DEs) to their assessments in a larger space and to better cope with uncertain information. Given that the combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) is an innovative MCDA approach with higher degree of stability and reliability than several existing methods.FindingsTo exhibit the potentiality and applicability of the presented framework, a case study of S3PRLPs assessment is taken from q-rung orthopair fuzzy perspective. The assessment process consists of three sustainability aspects namely economic, environment and social dimensions related with a total of 14 criteria. Further, sensitivity and comparative analyses are made to display the solidity and strength of the presented approach. The results of this study approve that the presented methodology is more stable and efficient in comparison with other methods.Originality/valueThus, the objective of the study is to develop a hybrid decision-making methodology by combining CoCoSo method and discrimination measure with q-ROFS for selecting an appropriate sustainable 3PRLP (S3PRLP) candidate under uncertain environment. In the proposed method, a novel procedure is proposed to obtain the weights of DEs within q-ROFS context. To calculate the criteria weights, a new formula is presented based on discrimination measure, which provides more realistic weights. In this respect, a new discrimination measure is proposed for q-ROFSs.

Objective: To identify the components of reverse logistics that impact regional development from the perspective of professionals working in this area in the city of Manaus, capital of the state of Amazonas.   Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework of this study was composed of theories related to the reverse logistics process, combined with social, economic, and environmental aspects that explain sustainable regional development.   Method: The method used was a survey, with data collected through semi-structured interviews with reverse logistics professionals working in the city of Manaus, with intentional sampling to cover the most varied sectors of activity; the data were analyzed and organized based on semantic and content techniques, with the results displayed in frequency tables, interpreted in light of the theoretical framework developed in the literature review to answer three guiding questions: which components of reverse logistics impact regional development, which analytical dimensions they form and in what ways they cause regional development.   Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed a) 47 components of reverse logistics that affect regional development, b) these factors could be organized into three analytical dimensions (environmental, economic and social), by the theoretical architecture developed, and c) they affect regional development in different ways, in a way that they contribute to or restrict development, depending on the behavior of other factors in the same and other analytical dimensions.   Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research highlight the need for continuous monitoring of the behavior of variables and analytical dimensions, enabling reverse logistics to effectively contribute to regional development, both by public agencies and, fundamentally, by organizations and civil society.   Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by presenting evidence that regional development is a personal, group, and social responsibility, not necessarily and exclusively of governments and their institutions.

More attention has been paid to the circular economy in recent years due to a focus on sustainability. Reverse logistics is an example of this, as it is critical for embracing and implementing the circular economy concept across supply chains. Nowadays, consumers are affecting every aspect of sustainability due to social media's exponential growth. This paper addressed a knowledge gap in sustainability and consumer behavior, which significantly impacts managerial decisions in reverse logistics, leading to reduced waste on returning products. The concept of sustainability is broadened by emphasizing specific aspects, including consumers, profit, the environment, and the company's employees. Additionally, an extended conceptual model of sustainability was proposed, discussed, and analyzed to determine the relationship between reverse logistics performance and sustainability using a brand-new linguistic interval-value hesitant fuzzy DEMATEL technique. The proposed model could be applied to various industries, including food, automotive, and electronics. To this end, the electronics and automotive industries were analyzed and compared. The findings indicated that, in the context of sustainability and to achieve more sustainable reverse logistics, consumers as a new stakeholder, in addition to other stakeholders, play a critical role. The study results could aid managers in governing reverse logistics in a circular economy ecosystem that is sustainable. Additionally, the model proposed in this paper enables policymakers and decision-makers to gain additional insights into developing a more resilient sustainable supply chain.