BACK TO THE ORIGIN: DISCOVER HOW REVERSE LOGISTICS WORKS AND ITS APPLICATIONS

Reverse logistics is a stage in the supply chain responsible for returning a product from the point of consumption or end-user back to the manufacturer or distributor for recovery, repair, recycling, or disposal.

Unlike conventional logistics, where a product moves from point A (Origin) to point B (Final Customer), in reverse logistics, the product travels from point B back to point A. This makes it an additional stage in the supply chain that occurs after the "delivery" stage.

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The 3Rs of Reverse Logistics

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The primary goal of reverse logistics is to manage the flow of materials and products from the end consumer back to the origin, maximizing their value and minimizing their environmental impact. This is achieved through the 3Rs of reverse logistics:

- Reduce: Reducing environmental impact by minimizing the use of materials and resources in production, packaging, and distribution.
- Reuse: Reusing materials or products to extend their lifespan, which can be achieved through repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing of returned products.
- Recycle: The process of recovering and transforming materials to be reused in the manufacturing of other products.

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Reverse Logistics: Green and Return, Two Types with Different Objectives

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There are two types of reverse logistics. The first is Green Reverse Logistics, where a product is returned and cannot be restocked or resold. In this case, the product goes through a process of repair, recycling, or disposal in an environmentally friendly way. This is where the 3Rs of reverse logistics are applied.

The second type is Return Reverse Logistics, where the product can be returned to inventory and resold. An example of this is returning a clothing item due to the wrong size selection.

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How Does This Process Work?

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1. The first step is the retrieval of goods, which involves collecting the products. This can be done in-store or through an online platform, depending on what the company offers. A team is ready to register and receive these returned products.
2. Once collected, the next step is to categorize the products and prepare them for the following steps in the process. During this step, the reason for the return must be inspected and verified to correctly categorize the products.
3. The next step is to plan the transportation of the products back to the original warehouse, where the process will continue.
4. Following this is the destruction of unusable products, where items that cannot be repaired are destroyed for proper disposal.
5. The final step is managing products classified as reusable or recyclable to extend their lifecycle.

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Applications of Reverse Logistics

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Reverse logistics applies to many sectors and situations to optimize the handling of products and materials. For example, in retail and e-commerce, it handles customer returns and processes unsold products, as well as returns of defective or unwanted items. In the technology sector, it manages the recovery of defective or obsolete equipment for repair, recycling, or reuse. In the food and beverage sector, it deals with the return of unsold products and the recycling of packaging. In the fashion and textiles sector, it handles the return of clothing and accessories due to wrong size selection or defects and manages the recycling of textile materials.

These sectors are just a few where reverse logistics is applied, and it is important to consider that many sectors use this strategy to extend the lifecycle of their products. It allows them to be environmentally conscious, better manage inventory, increase customer satisfaction by enhancing customer service, and reduce costs by using the 3Rs.

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Returnable Coca-Cola Bottles: An Efficient and Sustainable Reuse System

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An example in Mexico is the Coca-Cola FEMSA returnable packaging program. This program is based on the idea that containers can be reused several times before being recycled or repurposed.
In this program, consumers can return empty bottles to sales or collection points. These bottles are collected, cleaned, and reused for new beverage containers, with a process that includes inspection and disinfection. This program helps reduce packaging waste, promotes a longer lifecycle for bottles, and adds value for consumers since returnable bottles are 15% cheaper than a similar disposable product.

This is an example of reverse logistics that contributes to sustainability by allowing packaging to be used multiple times before being recycled or disposed of.

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