Responsibilities in reverse supply chains of waste electrical and electronic equipment: A literature review

Responsabilidades em cadeias de suprimentos reversas de resíduos de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos: Uma revisão da literature

ABSTRACT

The urgency for a redefinition in production and consumption models is highlighted by the growing demand for natural resources and the intense environmental degradation, exacerbated by rapid technological evolution, resulting in a significant quantity of improperly discarded Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The implementation of reverse systems is identified as an alternative to mitigate environmental damage from the improper disposal of WEEE, promoting the circular economy. This research aims to characterize the current literature context regarding responsibilities in reverse supply chains of WEEE. Through a systematic literature review, articles were selected from Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science for investigation. The results identified responsibilities in the realms of “Management and Operation,” “Integration,” “Legal,” “Economic,” “Product and Waste,” “Technological,” and “Capacity.” Concluding this research, the current landscape of papers addressing responsibilities related to the reverse supply chain of WEEE, as discussed in the literature, has been outlined. This survey significantly contributes to identifying gaps and opportunities for advancing new research, as well as fostering substantial developments in the literature on the subject.

Keywords:
responsibilities; reverse supply chain; waste electrical and electronic equipment; circular economy; sustainability