Identification of Key Facilitators for Adoption of Socially Sustainable Reverse Logistics System

The purpose of this paper is identify the crucial factors which enable social sustainability in a reverse supply chain present and determine the relationship between the various influencing factors using interpretive structure modeling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis.

The group of stakeholder of electronic companies and researchers from academics were consulted. The ISM approach is utilized for developing a hierarchical structural framework and MICMAC analysis aids in identifying the driving and the dependence power of the factors.

The hierarchy-based structural model helps in understanding the level of influence of each factor and the mutual interactions among the factors. The research highlights the factors with high driving power and low dependence which need more strategic focus for enabling social sustainability.

The structural framework developed is based on the subjective judgment of the group of researchers and experts and therefore is sensitive to the biasness of the group.

Analysing the stakeholders opinions and contributions can lead to identification of many crucial factors which enable social sustainability in a reverse supply chain. Contemplating and investing on the key facilitators derived from the structure can provide a strong foundation for decision makers of electronic companies for uplifting the social performance of the reverse logistic system resulting in the well being of all.

Emphasis on social sustainability while implementing a reverse logistics (RL) framework for managing end-of-life electronics has very recently gained momentum in the developing countries. Despite its numerous existing opportunities and derived benefits, its implementation in the electronics sector still faces significant barriers from multiple directions in India. A realigned focus on the enablers of reverse logistics as provided by the study can result in an implicit solution to majority of the barriers.