IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlogis/v9y2025i3p131-d1751825.html

Impact of Container Reverse Logistics on the Maritime Sector: Economic and Environmental Factors

Author

Listed:
  • Joaquim Jorge Vicente

    (Centro de Investigação em Gestão (CIGEST), Instituto Superior de Gestão, ISG-Business & Economics School, Rua Prof. Reinaldo dos Santos, Nº46 A, 1500-552 Lisbon, Portugal
    Centre for Management Studies of Instituto Superior Técnico (CEGIST), Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Lurdes Neves

    (Centro de Investigação em Gestão (CIGEST), Instituto Superior de Gestão, ISG-Business & Economics School, Rua Prof. Reinaldo dos Santos, Nº46 A, 1500-552 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Catarina Marques

    (Centro de Investigação em Gestão (CIGEST), Instituto Superior de Gestão, ISG-Business & Economics School, Rua Prof. Reinaldo dos Santos, Nº46 A, 1500-552 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

This paper investigates the growing problem of abandoned maritime containers and the lack of effective reverse logistics to manage them: Background: The research highlights the significant environmental impact and economic burdens caused by the imbalance of container inflow and outflow, which leads to the accumulation of containers in storage yards; Methods: The study used the Delphi Method, gathering insights from a panel of experts in container transport and maintenance. The goal was to identify key challenges and potential solutions for improving container reverse logistics in Portugal; Results: The results confirm the urgent need for efficient reverse logistics strategies to address the container imbalance. The experts reached over 60% consensus on the importance of developing logistics systems and improving communication between ports. Implementing these strategies would not only reduce economic costs but also significantly lower environmental pollution; Conclusions: The paper concludes that a strategic shift toward effective reverse logistics is essential for enhancing the sustainability and operational efficiency of the maritime transport sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Joaquim Jorge Vicente & Lurdes Neves & Catarina Marques, 2025. "Impact of Container Reverse Logistics on the Maritime Sector: Economic and Environmental Factors," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:9:y:2025:i:3:p:131-:d:1751825
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/9/3/131/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/9/3/131/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tiago Novaes Mathias & Yoshihisa Sugimura & Tomoya Kawasaki & Yasuhiro Akakura, 2025. "Topological Resilience of Shipping Alliances in Maritime Transportation Networks," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-32, January.
    2. Davies K. Bett & Islam Ali & Mohamed Gheith & Amr Eltawil, 2024. "Simulation-Based Optimization of Truck Appointment Systems in Container Terminals: A Dual Transactions Approach with Improved Congestion Factor Representation," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-30, August.
    3. Awad M. Aljuaid & Mayssa Koubâa & Mohamed Haykal Ammar & Karim Kammoun & Wafik Hachicha, 2024. "Mathematical Programming Formulations for the Berth Allocation Problems in Container Seaport Terminals," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Xuhui Yu & Yin Feng & Cong He & Chang Liu, 2024. "Modeling and Optimization of Container Drayage Problem with Empty Container Constraints across Multiple Inland Depots," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-32, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Wu, Hao & Shang, Tianyu & Wang, Kun & Yang, Hangjun, 2025. "Adaptation investment options for ports in response to shipping alliances," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    2. Crismeire Isbaex & Francisco dos Reis Fernandes Costa & Teresa Batista, 2025. "Application of GIS in the Maritime-Port Sector: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-36, April.
    3. Maria D. Gracia & Julio Mar-Ortiz & Manuel Vargas, 2025. "Truck Appointment Scheduling: A Review of Models and Algorithms," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-25, February.
    4. Yanjie Zhou & Yaqing Kang & Pulin Li & Xuehao Feng, 2026. "Container relocation problem: a systematic review and bibliometric analysis," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-39, December.
    5. Lang Xu & Yalan Chen, 2025. "Overview of Sustainable Maritime Transport Optimization and Operations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-35, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:gam:jlogis:v:9:y:2025:i:3:p:131-:d:1751825. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.