Not-for-profit supply chains for product take-back: Practices, unique logistical challenges and directions for new research

The extant literature in the field of reverse logistics has paid scant attention to take-back supply chains that are not aimed at making a profit. We attempt to flesh out this knowledge by highlighting how the processes of core acquisition, remanufacturing and marketing segmentation carried out in not-for-profit supply chains differ from those of for-profit ones. Drawing on the observed dissimilarities, we establish that the former have logistical and marketing challenges that are unique to them, which have not been examined in prior research, e.g. donations being the main source of core, there is a need to maximise the volume and quality of products that are returned as donations. We conclude this paper by proposing questions for future research, e.g. How to improve the collection of core when no direct financial incentives are offered? What are the company (donor) specific determinants, e.g. size and industry, moderating the quality of donations?