While reverse logistics has always been an important part of the supply chain, its importance has grown substantially in the past few years. This has been driven by: increasingly generous returns policies, growing legislation on product disposal, evermore global supply chains, rising consumer social responsibility and awareness of the cost-saving potential. Moreover, research from Cranfield School of Management shows that companies can reduce costs by 20-40% by using reverse logistics techniques.
In The Handbook of Reverse Logistics, Mike Bernon, John Cullen and Jonathan Gorst cover all the key issues in reverse logistics, including: reducing the level of returns; developing effective product return networks; options for product disposal that maximize asset recovery; and sustainable distribution. There is a dedicated chapter on circular supply chains. The book also features a valuable self-assessment audit tool for reverse logistics and is full of international case studies.