Achieving a Sustainable Returns Program

摘要

The answer to sustainability could be right under your nose, residing in business process improvements available in your internal processes and infrastructure. Among supply chain leaders, 70% are planning to invest in the circular economy in the next 18 months, and 66% are either currently using or planning to use digital technologies to improve reverse logistics in the next two years, finds a February 2020 Gartner report. They're right. Take the example of retail returns management. A good reverse logistics program can improve costs and meet measurable sustainability successes in the following areas: 1. Transportation. Strategically locating returns-processing facilities can greatly reduce your transport spend. If you use an external returns processor, choose one with facilities located near your distribution centers to reduce road miles. Some national retailers have only two or three returns facilities in the entire country, which is mind-blowing considering the miles spent moving less-valuable product. There are opportunities to reduce those miles and cut your carbon footprint.