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Out of the Box: Exploring Cardboard Returnability in Nanostore Supply Chains

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  • David Hidalgo-Carvajal

    (Department of Organization Engineering, Business Administration and Statistics, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales (ETSII), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), c/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain)

  • Edgar Gutierrez-Franco

    (Food and Retail Operations Lab, Center for Transportation and Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA)

  • Christopher Mejia-Argueta

    (Food and Retail Operations Lab, Center for Transportation and Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA)

  • Helen Suntura-Escobar

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Calle J.J.Perez, La Paz, Bolivia)

Abstract

Packaging plays an important role in the movement and distribution of products along the supply chain by safely ensuring proper product delivery, achieving economies of scale through standardization, and serving as a selling tool. Packaging presents associated high economic and environmental costs for transportation, picking, handling, storing, and returning products. Considering the high demand for paper and cardboard worldwide and the projected increase during the next decade, there is a latent need to prevent and reduce the possible waste from packaging. The return of cardboard boxes used for packaging to the product suppliers could be a feasible solution to tackle this issue; however, it seems to be a disposable cost that companies assume when delivering products to highly fragmented markets. This research intends to understand the role that nanostores play in affecting whether or not cardboard packages are returned after receiving the products from suppliers and how likely shopkeepers are to support closing the loops in the current supply chain system. A survey with 27 questions related to recycling, reusing, reselling, returning, and waste was designed and applied to three hundred thirty-seven shopkeepers in two stages. The data was analyzed through plot analysis and descriptive statistical methods. The results show that some dynamic drivers and intervention schemes may increase the current returnability rate of packaging (11%) to the level of reuse rates (75% in these small, family-owned retailers). We found that thicker cardboard packages foster reuse and recycling rates. Based on the results, we propose that startups close the gap to trigger returnability and recycling while the government develops regulations to support these initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • David Hidalgo-Carvajal & Edgar Gutierrez-Franco & Christopher Mejia-Argueta & Helen Suntura-Escobar, 2023. "Out of the Box: Exploring Cardboard Returnability in Nanostore Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:7804-:d:1143380
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Marinelli & Flavia Papile & Barbara Del Curto, 2023. "Coated Paper-Based Packaging Waste: Investigation on Sensorial Properties Affecting the Material Class Perception," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Mia Klemenčić & Ivana Bolanča Mirković & Nenad Bolf, 2023. "The Influence of the Production Stages of Cardboard Pharmaceutical Packaging on the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-15, December.

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