Why Reverse Logistics?
Traditionally, manufacturers did not feel responsible for their products after consumer use. The bulk of used products were dumped or incinerated with considerable damage to the environment. Today, consumers and authorities expect manufacturers to reduce the waste generated by their products. Therefore waste management has received increasing attention. Lately, due to new waste management legislation (especially in Germany), the emphasis has been shifting towards recovery, due to the high costs and environmental burdens of disposal. Firms become more and more responsible for collecting, dismantling and upgrading of used products and packaging materials. The main reasons to become active in reverse logistics are: • environmental laws that force firms to take back their products and take care of further treatment, • economic benefits of using returned products in the production process instead of paying high disposal costs, and • the growing environmental consciousness of consumers. A gr
