IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i10p7804-d1143380.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/10/7804/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/10/7804/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Camilo Andrés Mora-Quiñones & Leopoldo Eduardo Cárdenas-Barrón & Josué C. Velázquez-Martínez & Karla M. Gámez-Pérez, 2021. "The Coexistence of Nanostores within the Retail Landscape: A Spatial Statistical Study for Mexico City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Sun, Shuxing & Zhang, Bin, 2022. "Operation strategies for nanostore in community group buying," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    3. Daniel R. Cooper & Timothy G. Gutowski, 2017. "The Environmental Impacts of Reuse: A Review," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(1), pages 38-56, February.
    4. Xiaoyue Liu & Jeongsoo Yu & Kazuaki Okubo & Masahiro Sato & Toshiaki Aoki, 2021. "Case Study on the Efficiency of Recycling Companies’ Waste Paper Collection Stations in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-13, October.
    5. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    6. David Hidalgo-Carvajal & Ruth Carrasco-Gallego & Gustavo Morales-Alonso, 2021. "From Goods to Services and from Linear to Circular: The Role of Servitization’s Challenges and Drivers in the Shifting Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-26, April.
    7. Y. Boulaksil & A.C.C. van Wijk, 2018. "A cash-constrained stochastic inventory model with consumer loans and supplier credits: the case of nanostores in emerging markets," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(15), pages 4983-5004, August.
    8. 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.
    9. Youssef Boulaksil & M. Jaafar Belkora, 2017. "Distribution Strategies Toward Nanostores in Emerging Markets: The Valencia Case," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 47(6), pages 505-517, December.
    10. Gong, Mengfeng & Gao, Yuan & Koh, Lenny & Sutcliffe, Charles & Cullen, John, 2019. "The role of customer awareness in promoting firm sustainability and sustainable supply chain management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 88-96.
    11. Rafael Escamilla & Jan C. Fransoo & Christopher S. Tang, 2021. "Improving Agility, Adaptability, Alignment, Accessibility, and Affordability in Nanostore Supply Chains," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(3), pages 676-688, March.
    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. 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.

    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. Camilo Andrés Mora-Quiñones & Leopoldo Eduardo Cárdenas-Barrón & Josué C. Velázquez-Martínez & Karla M. Gámez-Pérez, 2021. "The Coexistence of Nanostores within the Retail Landscape: A Spatial Statistical Study for Mexico City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Rafael Escamilla & Jan C. Fransoo & Christopher S. Tang, 2021. "Improving Agility, Adaptability, Alignment, Accessibility, and Affordability in Nanostore Supply Chains," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(3), pages 676-688, March.
    3. Boulaksil, Youssef & Fransoo, Jan C. & Blanco, Edgar E. & Koubida, Sallem, 2019. "Understanding the fragmented demand for transportation – Small traditional retailers in emerging markets," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 65-81.
    4. Sun, Shuxing & Zhang, Bin, 2022. "Operation strategies for nanostore in community group buying," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    5. Koide, R. & Murakami, S. & Nansai, K., 2022. "Prioritising low-risk and high-potential circular economy strategies for decarbonisation: A meta-analysis on consumer-oriented product-service systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    6. Fransoo, Jan C. & Escamilla, Rafael & Ge, Jiwen, 2024. "Nanoretail operations in developing markets," Other publications TiSEM 11ea94fa-87eb-41ca-89f6-b, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    7. Shin, Youngchul & Lee, Sangyoon & Moon, Ilkyeong, 2020. "Robust multiperiod inventory model considering trade-in program and refurbishment service: Implications to emerging markets," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    8. İlkay Unay-Gailhard & Mark A. Brennen, 2022. "How digital communications contribute to shaping the career paths of youth: a review study focused on farming as a career option," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(4), pages 1491-1508, December.
    9. Mahin Ghafari & Vali Baigi & Zahra Cheraghi & Amin Doosti-Irani, 2016. "The Prevalence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Iranian Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-10, June.
    10. Elizabeth T Cafiero-Fonseca & Andrew Stawasz & Sydney T Johnson & Reiko Sato & David E Bloom, 2017. "The full benefits of adult pneumococcal vaccination: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(10), pages 1-23, October.
    11. Santos Urbina & Sofía Villatoro & Jesús Salinas, 2021. "Self-Regulated Learning and Technology-Enhanced Learning Environments in Higher Education: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-12, June.
    12. Oded Berger-Tal & Alison L Greggor & Biljana Macura & Carrie Ann Adams & Arden Blumenthal & Amos Bouskila & Ulrika Candolin & Carolina Doran & Esteban Fernández-Juricic & Kiyoko M Gotanda & Catherine , 2019. "Systematic reviews and maps as tools for applying behavioral ecology to management and policy," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 30(1), pages 1-8.
    13. Nadine Desrochers & Adèle Paul‐Hus & Jen Pecoskie, 2017. "Five decades of gratitude: A meta‐synthesis of acknowledgments research," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 68(12), pages 2821-2833, December.
    14. Maryono, Maryono & Killoes, Aditya Marendra & Adhikari, Rajendra & Abdul Aziz, Ammar, 2024. "Agriculture development through multi-stakeholder partnerships in developing countries: A systematic literature review," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    15. Alene Sze Jing Yong & Yi Heng Lim & Mark Wing Loong Cheong & Ednin Hamzah & Siew Li Teoh, 2022. "Willingness-to-pay for cancer treatment and outcome: a systematic review," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(6), pages 1037-1057, August.
    16. Xue-Ying Xu & Hong Kong & Rui-Xiang Song & Yu-Han Zhai & Xiao-Fei Wu & Wen-Si Ai & Hong-Bo Liu, 2014. "The Effectiveness of Noninvasive Biomarkers to Predict Hepatitis B-Related Significant Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(6), pages 1-16, June.
    17. Vicente Miñana-Signes & Manuel Monfort-Pañego & Javier Valiente, 2021. "Teaching Back Health in the School Setting: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-18, January.
    18. Agnieszka A. Tubis & Katarzyna Grzybowska, 2022. "In Search of Industry 4.0 and Logistics 4.0 in Small-Medium Enterprises—A State of the Art Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.
    19. Obsa Urgessa Ayana & Jima Degaga, 2022. "Effects of rural electrification on household welfare: a meta-regression analysis," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 69(2), pages 209-261, June.
    20. Caloffi, Annalisa & Colovic, Ana & Rizzoli, Valentina & Rossi, Federica, 2023. "Innovation intermediaries' types and functions: A computational analysis of the literature," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).

    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:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:7804-:d:1143380. 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.