Title: Managing eco-design for reverse logistics

Authors: Kuan-Siew Khor; Thurasamy Ramayah; Hamid Reza Panjeh Fouladgaran

Addresses: Sunway University Business School, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia ' School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, 11800 Penang, Malaysia ' Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University, Redmonds Building, Brownlow Hill, L3 5UG, UK

Abstract: Multifaceted design and manufacturing activities play a major part in reducing the volume of e-waste within retired consumer electronics. The green supply chain management framework puts together green practices in support of sustainable production and consumption. This study explored the structural paths of eco-design, reverse logistics, design for disassembly, and business performance outcomes (environmental outcome and profitability). Variance-based structural equation modelling was applied to analyse the survey data collected from 89 electrical and electronic (E&E) manufacturing firms that received IS014001 certification for their environmental management system. Data analyses revealed that design for disassembly influenced eco-design, which subsequently influenced the implementation reverse logistics. Further analyses suggested that reverse logistics is positively associated with environmental outcome and profitability while eco-design did not appear to derive similar outcome. The finding highlighted the importance of life-cycle thinking in recovering valuable subassemblies, component parts and materials within end-of-use electrical equipment, otherwise known as e-waste.

Keywords: eco-design; reverse logistics; environmental outcome; profitability; design for disassembly; electrical and electronic; E&E.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2020.108811

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2020 Vol.26 No.2, pp.125 - 146

Received: 30 Oct 2018
Accepted: 19 Feb 2019
Published online: 04 Aug 2020 *

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