Reverse supply chain conceptual model for construction and demolition waste

Abstract

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) substantially contributes to environmental degradation because of its intrinsic characteristics of fast and high generation volume, low recycling rate, and low revenue margins. A systemic problem is that recycling facilities are not usually a part of a reverse supply chain (RSC) specific for CDW. This makes the recovery process costs prohibitive, especially where companies are unable to receive and process large volumes of waste continuously. This paper presents a systematic analysis of the extant literature and utilizes the results accrued to develop a conceptual RSC model for CDW. In so doing, the research seeks to provide clarity on this phenomenon, while simultaneously stimulating wider academic discourse and further research endeavours. A mixed philosophies epistemological design was adopted using both interpretavism and constructivism to undertake a qualitative systematic analysis of the literature. A process diagram was produced to represent the conceptual model (CM) and thematically group the nodes into three key swim lanes that delineate the boundaries between distribution, manufacturing, and sourcing and warehousing processes. Within each swim lane, stakeholders were incorporated as key actors. A further layer of nuanced complexity was added to illustrate the key actors involved in the process, government strategies, and activity flow paths. This novel CM offers both practical and theoretical contributions to existing knowledge and signposts a future research direction. Such work will demystify reverse logistics for managing CDW, and assist government policy-makers to develop informed policies that reduce the negative environmental impact of construction activities.

A Case Study of a Negotiated Tender within a Small-to-Medium Construction Contractor: Modelling Project Cost Variance

“…This research adopts a mixed philosophical stance that combines interpretivism [96][97][98] and pragmatism [99]. As an epistemological stance, interpretivism was adopted in order to critically review extant literature and generate questions that then informed the ensuing inductive research approach, which sought to generate new theory on "negotiation" as a viable procurement path [100].…”

Information-centric influence strategies for quality assurance in reverse logistics supply chains: external stakeholders' perspective

“…While adding a different perspective to Brandão et al (2021b), this study found that state government organizations via regulating, monitoring, leading and incentivizing employ an information-centric influence over the QA in RLSC of DW. The strategies mentioned by Brandão et al (2021b), such as legislation, penalties and fines and landfill disposal fees, were discussed in the current study under the umbrella strategy of “regulating”. The state government organizations' influence as a regulator was the most frequently mentioned strategy in the interviews, reflecting that QA in RLSC becomes information-rich within a regulatory framework.…”

“…It is well popular that the regulatory pressures from the government are the critical impetus to promote sustainability in the CI all around the world (Ahmed et al , 2019; Liu et al , 2020; Singh and Sushil, 2021). Through a systematic literature review, Brandão et al (2021b) claimed that the government emerges as the most influential actor of the RLSC of DW, being the only stakeholder employing six influence strategies: legislation, penalties and fines, inspection, subsidies, landfill disposal fee and incorporating reprocessed products using public construction works. While adding a different perspective to Brandão et al (2021b), this study found that state government organizations via regulating, monitoring, leading and incentivizing employ an information-centric influence over the QA in RLSC of DW.…”

“…Through a systematic literature review, Brandão et al (2021b) claimed that the government emerges as the most influential actor of the RLSC of DW, being the only stakeholder employing six influence strategies: legislation, penalties and fines, inspection, subsidies, landfill disposal fee and incorporating reprocessed products using public construction works. While adding a different perspective to Brandão et al (2021b), this study found that state government organizations via regulating, monitoring, leading and incentivizing employ an information-centric influence over the QA in RLSC of DW. The strategies mentioned by Brandão et al (2021b), such as legislation, penalties and fines and landfill disposal fees, were discussed in the current study under the umbrella strategy of “regulating”.…”

Editorial

“…reputation for being wasteful, unsustainable and a major pollutant (Brandão et al, 2021), accompanied by unsatisfactory outcomes for project participants and wider society alike (Newman et al, 2020;Nikmehr et al, 2021). Construction productivity, in contrast to other sectors, has not grown over the last 30 years (Teicholz, 2013;Fathalizadeh et al, 2021).…”