IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/ormsom/v14y2012i1p115-127.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Turning Waste into By-Product

Author

Listed:
  • Deishin Lee

    (Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02163)

Abstract

This paper studies how a firm can create and capture value by converting a waste stream into a useful and saleable by-product (i.e., implementing by-product synergy (BPS)). We show that BPS creates an operational synergy between two products that are jointly produced. In essence, BPS is a process innovation that reduces the marginal cost of the original product and/or the by-product. The firm creates value through this process innovation and can capture this value by capturing newly created market opportunities, taking market share from competitors, or licensing the innovation to its competitors. We determine the optimal operating and licensing strategies for the firm and find market conditions under which the firm would benefit most from implementing BPS. We show that the optimal operating and licensing strategies are driven by the size of the cost reduction enabled by the BPS process innovation. We also show that leveraging the synergies between the original product and by-product can lead to counterintuitive profit-maximizing operating strategies such as increasing the amount of waste generated, and strategically increasing the quantity of original product above the business as usual production volume. We present a framework for assessing the environmental impact of BPS that incorporates the impact of the optimal operating and licensing strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Deishin Lee, 2012. "Turning Waste into By-Product," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 14(1), pages 115-127, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormsom:v:14:y:2012:i:1:p:115-127
    DOI: 10.1287/msom.1110.0352
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/msom.1110.0352
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/msom.1110.0352?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gabriel R. Bitran & Stephen M. Gilbert, 1994. "Co-Production Processes with Random Yields in the Semiconductor Industry," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 42(3), pages 476-491, June.
    2. Wang, X. Henry, 1998. "Fee versus royalty licensing in a Cournot duopoly model," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 55-62, July.
    3. Brian Tomlin & Yimin Wang, 2008. "Pricing and Operational Recourse in Coproduction Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(3), pages 522-537, March.
    4. Arthur Hsu & Yehuda Bassok, 1999. "Random Yield and Random Demand in a Production System with Downward Substitution," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 47(2), pages 277-290, April.
    5. John Ehrenfeld & Nicholas Gertler, 1997. "Industrial Ecology in Practice: The Evolution of Interdependence at Kalundborg," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 1(1), pages 67-79, January.
    6. Gabriel R. Bitran & Thin-Yin Leong, 1992. "Deterministic Approximations to Co-Production Problems with Service Constraints and Random Yields," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 38(5), pages 724-742, May.
    7. Bulow, Jeremy I & Geanakoplos, John D & Klemperer, Paul D, 1985. "Multimarket Oligopoly: Strategic Substitutes and Complements," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 93(3), pages 488-511, June.
    8. Geraldo Ferrer & Jayashankar M. Swaminathan, 2006. "Managing New and Remanufactured Products," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(1), pages 15-26, January.
    9. Fleischmann, Moritz & Bloemhof-Ruwaard, Jacqueline M. & Dekker, Rommert & van der Laan, Erwin & van Nunen, Jo A. E. E. & Van Wassenhove, Luk N., 1997. "Quantitative models for reverse logistics: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(1), pages 1-17, November.
    10. Laurens G. Debo & L. Beril Toktay & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2005. "Market Segmentation and Product Technology Selection for Remanufacturable Products," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 51(8), pages 1193-1205, August.
    11. Zhiqi Chen & Thomas Ross, 2007. "Markets Linked by Rising Marginal Costs: Implications for Multimarket Contact, Recoupment, and Retaliatory Entry," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 31(1), pages 1-21, August.
    12. Mary Tripsas, 2009. "Technology, Identity, and Inertia Through the Lens of “The Digital Photography Company”," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(2), pages 441-460, April.
    13. V. Daniel R. Guide , Jr. & Gilvan C. Souza & Luk N. Van Wassenhove & Joseph D. Blackburn, 2006. "Time Value of Commercial Product Returns," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(8), pages 1200-1214, August.
    14. Jayaraman, Vaidyanathan & Patterson, Raymond A. & Rolland, Erik, 2003. "The design of reverse distribution networks: Models and solution procedures," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(1), pages 128-149, October.
    15. R. Canan Savaskan & Shantanu Bhattacharya & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2004. "Closed-Loop Supply Chain Models with Product Remanufacturing," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(2), pages 239-252, February.
    16. V. Daniel R. Guide, Jr. & Ruud H. Teunter & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2003. "Matching Demand and Supply to Maximize Profits from Remanufacturing," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 5(4), pages 303-316, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nur Sunar & Erica Plambeck, 2016. "Allocating Emissions Among Co-Products: Implications for Procurement and Climate Policy," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 18(3), pages 414-428, July.
    2. Suzanne, Elodie & Absi, Nabil & Borodin, Valeria & van den Heuvel, Wilco, 2020. "A single-item lot-sizing problem with a by-product and inventory capacities," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 287(3), pages 844-855.
    3. Bin Li & Onur Boyabatlı & Buket Avcı, 2023. "Economic and Environmental Implications of Biomass Commercialization in Agricultural Processing," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(6), pages 3561-3577, June.
    4. Yen-Ting Lin & Haoying Sun & Shouqiang Wang, 2020. "Designing Sustainable Products Under Coproduction Technology," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 22(6), pages 1181-1198, November.
    5. Suzanne, Elodie & Absi, Nabil & Borodin, Valeria, 2020. "Towards circular economy in production planning: Challenges and opportunities," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 287(1), pages 168-190.
    6. Harald Dyckhoff & Rainer Souren, 2023. "Are important phenomena of joint production still being neglected by economic theory? A review of recent literature," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(6), pages 1015-1053, August.
    7. Ying-Ju Chen & Brian Tomlin & Yimin Wang, 2017. "Dual Coproduct Technologies: Implications for Process Development and Adoption," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 19(4), pages 692-712, October.
    8. Zhou, Pin & Xu, He & Wang, Hongwei, 2020. "Value of by-product synergy: A supply chain perspective," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(3), pages 941-954.
    9. Ji, Guojun & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Yang, Guangyong, 2014. "Constructing sustainable supply chain under double environmental medium regulations," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(PB), pages 211-219.
    10. Tang, Xiaoying & He, Yong & Salling, Melissza, 2021. "Optimal pricing and production strategies for two manufacturers with industrial symbiosis," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    11. Zhe Liu & Weslynne S. Ashton & Michelle Adams & Qing Wang & Raymond P. Cote & Tony R. Walker & Lu Sun & Peter Lowitt, 2023. "Diversity in financing and implementation pathways for industrial symbiosis across the globe," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 960-978, January.
    12. Xiong, Yu & Zhou, Yu & Li, Gendao & Chan, Hing-Kai & Xiong, Zhongkai, 2013. "Don’t forget your supplier when remanufacturing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 230(1), pages 15-25.
    13. Onur Boyabatlı & Javad Nasiry & Yangfang (Helen) Zhou, 2019. "Crop Planning in Sustainable Agriculture: Dynamic Farmland Allocation in the Presence of Crop Rotation Benefits," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(5), pages 2060-2076, May.
    14. Uşar, Damla Durak & Denizel, Meltem & Soytaş, Mehmet Ali, 2019. "Corporate sustainability interactions: A game theoretical approach to sustainability actions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 196-211.
    15. Baris Ata & Deishin Lee & Mustafa H. Tongarlak, 2012. "Optimizing Organic Waste to Energy Operations," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 14(2), pages 231-244, April.
    16. Ying-Ju Chen & Brian Tomlin & Yimin Wang, 2013. "Coproduct Technologies: Product Line Design and Process Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(12), pages 2772-2789, December.
    17. Hezarkhani, Behzad & Demirel, Guven & Bouchery, Yann & Dora, Manoj, 2023. "Can “ugly veg” supply chains reduce food loss?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 309(1), pages 117-132.
    18. Karan Girotra & Serguei Netessine, 2013. "OM Forum —Business Model Innovation for Sustainability," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 537-544, October.
    19. Lee, Deishin & Tongarlak, Mustafa Hayri, 2017. "Converting retail food waste into by-product," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 257(3), pages 944-956.
    20. Harald Dyckhoff, 2023. "Proper modelling of industrial production systems with unintended outputs: a different perspective," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 173-188, April.
    21. Atalay Atasu & Charles J. Corbett & Ximin (Natalie) Huang & L. Beril Toktay, 2020. "Sustainable Operations Management Through the Perspective of Manufacturing & Service Operations Management," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 22(1), pages 146-157, January.
    22. Meng, Mingyou & Deng, Shiming & Zhou, Pin & Xu, He, 2023. "The effects of subsidy programs in byproduct synergy operations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    23. Miguel A. Artacho-Ramírez & Bélgica Pacheco-Blanco & Víctor A. Cloquell-Ballester & Mónica Vicent & Irina Celades, 2020. "Quick Wins Workshop and Companies Profiling to Analyze Industrial Symbiosis Potential. Valenciaport’s Cluster as Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    24. Suvrat Dhanorkar, 2019. "Environmental Benefits of Internet-Enabled C2C Closed-Loop Supply Chains: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Craigslist," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(2), pages 660-680, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. V. Daniel R. Guide & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2009. "OR FORUM---The Evolution of Closed-Loop Supply Chain Research," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 57(1), pages 10-18, February.
    2. Ferrer, Geraldo & Swaminathan, Jayashankar M., 2010. "Managing new and differentiated remanufactured products," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 203(2), pages 370-379, June.
    3. Jin, Minyue & Li, Baoyong & Xiong, Yu & Chakraborty, Ratula & Zhou, Yu, 2023. "Implications of coproduction technology on waste management: Who can benefit from the coproduct made of leftover materials?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 307(3), pages 1248-1259.
    4. Sheu, Jiuh-Biing & Chen, Yenming J., 2012. "Impact of government financial intervention on competition among green supply chains," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(1), pages 201-213.
    5. Yalabik, Baris & Chhajed, Dilip & Petruzzi, Nicholas C., 2014. "Product and sales contract design in remanufacturing," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 299-312.
    6. Pokharel, Shaligram & Mutha, Akshay, 2009. "Perspectives in reverse logistics: A review," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 175-182.
    7. Lee, Deishin & Tongarlak, Mustafa Hayri, 2017. "Converting retail food waste into by-product," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 257(3), pages 944-956.
    8. De Giovanni, Pietro & Zaccour, Georges, 2014. "A two-period game of a closed-loop supply chain," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 232(1), pages 22-40.
    9. Xiong, Yu & Zhou, Yu & Li, Gendao & Chan, Hing-Kai & Xiong, Zhongkai, 2013. "Don’t forget your supplier when remanufacturing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 230(1), pages 15-25.
    10. Kumar Jena, Sarat & Sarmah, S.P, 2014. "Price competition and co-operation in a duopoly closed-loop supply chain," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 346-360.
    11. Ahmed Timoumi & Narendra Singh & Subodha Kumar, 2021. "Is Your Retailer a Friend or Foe: When Should the Manufacturer Allow Its Retailer to Refurbish?," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(9), pages 2814-2839, September.
    12. Liu, Zhuojun & Chen, Jing & Diallo, Claver, 2018. "Optimal production and pricing strategies for a remanufacturing firm," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 290-315.
    13. Jayashree Mahajan & Asoo J Vakharia, 2016. "Waste Management: A Reverse Supply Chain Perspective," Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers, , vol. 41(3), pages 197-208, September.
    14. Chen, Jen-Ming & Chang, Chia-I, 2012. "The co-opetitive strategy of a closed-loop supply chain with remanufacturing," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 387-400.
    15. Liao, Haolan & Zhang, Qingyu & Shen, Neng & Nie, Yongyou & Li, Lu, 2021. "Coordination between forward and reverse production streams for maximum profitability," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    16. Lili Dai & Tong Shu & Shou Chen & Shouyang Wang & Kin Keung Lai, 2020. "CSR Remanufacturing Supply Chains under WTP Differentiation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, March.
    17. Tao Lu & Ying‐Ju Chen & Brian Tomlin & Yimin Wang, 2019. "Selling Co‐Products through a Distributor: The Impact on Product Line Design," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 28(4), pages 1010-1032, April.
    18. Xue, Dongmei & Teunter, Ruud H. & Zhu, Stuart X. & Zhou, Weihua, 2021. "Entering the high-end market by collecting and remanufacturing a competitor’s high-end cores," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    19. Hsieh, Chung-Chi & Lai, Hsing-Hua, 2020. "Pricing and ordering decisions in a supply chain with downward substitution and imperfect process yield," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    20. Ying-Ju Chen & Brian Tomlin & Yimin Wang, 2013. "Coproduct Technologies: Product Line Design and Process Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(12), pages 2772-2789, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:ormsom:v:14:y:2012:i:1:p:115-127. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.