Reverse Logistics in Plastic Supply Chain: The Current Practice in Vietnam

Zusammenfassung

Reverse logistics, a fairly new concept in Vietnam, has gained increasing importance as a profitable and sustainable business strategy. This study attempts to empirically understand the current practice of reverse logistics in Vietnam’s plastics supply chain. It identifies the value drivers that trigger companies to set up a reverse chain and the main barriers that face the Vietnamese enterprises in the plastics sector with undertaking reverse logistics programs. The results show that the customers’ satisfaction and direct economic gain are driving the local plastics companies to explore reverse logistics as one of their strategic challenges and opportunities. Meanwhile, the highest internal barrier is limited forecasting and planning the reverse logistics, and that the perception of poor quality recovered materials is among the external barriers. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge in the field that is still developing in Vietnam.