Managing eco-design for reverse logistics

Multifaceted design and manufacturing activities play a major part in reducing the volume of e-waste within retired consumer electronics. The green supply chain management framework puts together green practices in support of sustainable production and consumption. This study explored the structural paths of eco-design, reverse logistics, design for disassembly, and business performance outcomes (environmental outcome and profitability). Variance-based structural equation modelling was applied to analyse the survey data collected from 89 electrical and electronic (E&E) manufacturing firms that received IS014001 certification for their environmental management system. Data analyses revealed that design for disassembly influenced eco-design, which subsequently influenced the implementation reverse logistics. Further analyses suggested that reverse logistics is positively associated with environmental outcome and profitability while eco-design did not appear to derive similar outcome. The finding highlighted the importance of life-cycle thinking in recovering valuable subassemblies, component parts and materials within end-of-use electrical equipment, otherwise known as e-waste.