Closed-loop Supply Chain with Remanufacturing: A Literature Review

In supporting environmental sustainability, managing product returns has become a very important and challenging issue. Responding to this trend, researchers in many parts of the world have conducted numerous studies in reverse logistics and reverse supply chain, that were considered separately from the forward channel of supply chains. Meanwhile, there are opportunities to create added values from product returns and to improve efficiency when both channels are considered in an integrated way, as a closed loop supply chain. On the other hand, remanufacturing is a very appealing option among product recovery processes that has potential to increase the value of product returns. However, the available literature and theories on closed loop supply chain with remanufacturing are still limited. This paper aims to provide a literature review that covers closed loop supply chain with remanufacturing to identify its characteristics based on previous works in this area. The review methodology is content analysis, classified into managerial aspects and technical aspects with their subsequent topics. Related literatures will be mapped under the abovementioned structures while identifying other important aspects that have potentials for further study. An outline of research opportunities will presented as a result of the review.