Abstract

This chapter highlights some of the innovative approaches that have been taken by businesses involved in reverse logistics for the removal of waste from urban areas. The chapter reviews some of these approaches and suggests which could be used more widely, recognising the specific limitations which may restrict their applicability. These innovative approaches include: the use of delivery vehicles to take-back waste/recyclate to out-of-town facilities such as a freight consolidation or recycling centre; combining commercial and household waste collections; deploying public transport vehicles to carry specialist recyclate; using multi-modal transport; ‘smart’ bin technology and pipelines for the removal of waste from buildings. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

The external supply of logistics services is part of a trend toward outsourcing non-core logistics activities. The scope of third-party logistics may range from a relatively limited combination of activities (e.g. transportation and warehousing) to a comprehensive set of logistics services. The authors first discuss the characteristics of business logistics in manufactoring industry, to be taken into account in logistics outsourcing. They particularly point out the motivations for logistics outsourcing, the possibilities of outsourcing, as well as supplier selection. Finally they analyze the outsourcing in the reverse logistics. Vanjska opskrba (outsourcing) logističkih usluga predstavlja dio opće sklonosti tvrtki da prenesu pojedine aktivnosti na za to specijalizirane tvrtke, koje mogu te aktivnosti izvesti na visokoj razini. Ovo područje naziva se trećim dijelom logistike, a kreće se od relativno ograničene kombinacije aktivnosti (primjerice transporta i skladištenja), pa sve do sustavnog pristupa brojnim logističkim i inim aktivnostima. Autori u ovoj raspravi najprije posvećuju pozornost značajkama poslovne logistike u industrijskim proizvodnim tvrtkama, koje zavrjeđuju da budu uzete u razmatranje glede vanjske opskrbe logističkim uslugama (outsourcing). Posebice se prikazuju mogućnosti i motivi za odabir vanjskih opskrbljivača logističkim uslugama, kao i način selekcioniranja ponuđača. Na kraju se analiziraju osobitosti outsourcinga povratne logistike.

Abstract

Background:          The growing number of electric vehicles gives rise to a whole new reverse supply chain. Once the electric vehicle batteries reach their end-of-life, societal and governmental pressure forces automotive manufacturers to set up a network for disposing the hazardous batteries. Although, the volumes of returned batteries remain low, volumes will increase in upcoming years. Current networks and processes related to the return flow of electric vehicle batteries are not well established, nor well defined. Thus, creating an urgency to develop efficient collection networks.   Purpose:                  The purpose of this study is to investigate how reverse logistics networks are currently set up and to provide an overview of how the different actors and processes are connected. In addition, this thesis aims to identify challenges encountered by logistics providers and recyclers. By doing so, we hope to contribute to the research gap of which factors that constitutes a bottleneck for further development of the reverse logistics chain of electric vehicle batteries.   Method:                  The thesis conducts an interview study and is qualitative in nature. Semi-structured interviews generated empirical data, which was analysed through cross-case analysis incorporating a thematic analysis. Through this analysis we were able to achieve new theoretical understandings in connection to institutional theory.   Conclusion:             Through empirical findings a detailed framework of the reverse logistics chain of EVBs is portrayed. Furthermore, different challenges span over the processes illustrated in the framework. This presents an overview which is not found in current literature and extends current research on this topic.