REVERSE LOGISTICS IMPLEMENTATION FOR E-WASTE MANAGEMENT: INSIGHTS FROM THE ELECTRONIC PRODUCERS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Despite the importance of reverse logistics (RL) in e-waste management, the literature review shows that the main drivers of RL adoption are not well understood yet, especially in electronic producers. This work presents the findings from an expert interview study with the participation of twelve real-world experts specializing in supply chain management and waste management in Singapore. Firstly, a diagram about the flow of e-waste in the country was created, together with the careful description; it gives an overall e-waste background at present. Secondly, a conceptual framework representing the main internal and external influences on RL adoption was developed based on a literature review and information analyzed from the experts‟ perspectives. The results show that the most fundamental drivers are the financial benefits and government and legislation, which are consistent with the findings from the literature review. The corporate strategy such as branding, parent company and senior management are necessary for decision-making process to adopt RL. The global emphasis on enhancing green initiatives are still limited to influence the producers. Finally, the recommendations from the experts for enhancing RL practice were synthesized; they may support the managerial board and policy makers to take advantage of the results so that they can consider strategies for RL adoption.