Barriers to Reverse Logistics and the Circular Economy in Supply Chain Arrangements: A Qualitative Study in Ecuador

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyse the main barriers to implementing models related to the circular economy and reverse logistics in the framework of corporate social responsibility in Ecuador. The study has used a qualitative approach, using a non-probabilistic sample of seven companies, interviewing experts in the fields of production and operations management, as well as reverse logistics and the circular economy. The results, provided by Atlas.ti software, identify that the most common obstacles to putting reverse logistics and circular economy models into practice are the lack of stakeholder commitment, information on business sustainability and private and government investment, and the negative impact on the cost-benefit ratio of Latin American companies based on their business culture.

Keywords

• Supply chain
• Sustainable development
• Circular economy
• Reverse logistics
• Sustainability
• Barriers