BUAD916 – Applied Business Research

A Research Report on

"Importance of reverse logistics in Mobile Phone industry."

Prepared by:

Suman Chahal

ID NO. 20151352

Supervisor:

Ray Ninow

Executive Summary

This report is about the importance of reverse logistics related to the mobile phone industry. This research aims to realize the significance of the reverse logistics corresponding to the mobile phone industry. The key findings suggest that discarded and used mobile phones are responsible for accumulating huge amounts of e-waste. This e-waste discharges harmful components and poses a threat to the environment and human health. The findings suggest the importance of reverse logistics for recycling these phones for metal extraction and, if not recycled, their safe disposal. There are various companies in the mobile phone industry that have successfully implemented the reverse logistics system. They have done this through their system or 3PL (third party logistics). The discarded mobile phones are gathered and then recycled to minimize the harmful effects of the hazardous components present in mobile phones that pollute the environment. On reflection, it is suggested that the government could make regulations to promote reverse logistics for the mobile phone companies to cope with e-waste. Through innovation, mobile phone companies can manufacture new phones using old components from used mobile phones, and in this way, a healthy reverse logistics system can be created with less of an impact on the environment.

1. Introduction:

The mobile phone is a significant development today that almost every individual uses, and yet it and other technology hardware can create electronic waste or e-waste in the order of a million tons (Janse, Schuur, & de Brito, 2010). This can have a great deal of negative effect on the climate and human well-being because the breakdown of the mobile phones discharges unsafe elements like lead and mercury, which are harmful to the climate and human health (Janse et al., 2010). Mobile phones are disposed of because they are superseded due to innovation and technology updates, and consequently, they are expanding landfills alongside other waste (Erol et al., 2010). It might be said that a mobile phone model has an exceptionally short life cycle, and in this way, the client purchases another mobile phone, and the previous adds to the e-waste (Janse et al., 2010). In addition to this, developing rivalry among various mobile companies has given buyers numerous choices, and they can pick the phones depending on quality, features, and cost (Wang, Yu, & Wang, 2013). Mounting e-waste from mobile phones has gotten expanding considerations from the government, society because of manageability concerns (Janse et al., 2010).

Nowadays, about five million cell phones have been utilized around the globe. Different countries have n different stan te, but given the world, 16.7% mobile phones are used in China, 13.4% cell phones are used in India, the US contains 5.7% of the globe, Brazil used 4.6% whereas the share of Russia is 4.3%. In the above state, two countries Russia and Brazil, have a greater number of cell phones than their populations. However, the rapid technology innovation brought changes in the mobile phone industries. New designs and valuable features lead to the phone's quick growth and old mobile models' obsolescence. Therefore, the old version reached their manufacturers for different reasons: buyback offers warranty claims, or life limit (Abbey, Meloy, Blackburn, & Guide Jr, 2015).

Furthermore, mobile phone disposal emerged from passive use unevenly dumped in landfills, polluting the atmosphere with many toxic products, primarily heavy metals. There was also a need for regulations to govern the deliberate dumping of these excess mobile phones. Scholarly analysis has shown that no related research has been conducted in this review to discuss the implementation of the reverse cell phone logistics method.

In 2019, worldwide cell phone penetration was expected to hit 70 percent, rendering this market the rapidly expanding field and one of the world's biggest. At the same moment, China has greater than 1.2 billion smartphone users, with India projected to cross 1 billion in 2019. Data indicates that cell phone usage remains the largest in the European area, exceeding North America by a larger distance. However, with an average of 2.9 billion users, the Asia Pacific area registered the largest number of smartphone users in 2017 (Statista, 2017).

A study analysis illustrates that the downfall of the perception of the Nokia brand by high-tech consumers in the mobile cell field had an irreversible effect on their company identity and showed the popularity of the Apple company that was lauded by the same audience (McCray, Gonzalez, & Darling, 2011). In pleasing smartphone consumers, device color attributes play an important role. A related report has also shown that awareness is one of the key factors for consumer loyalty in the smartphone domain. However, the features of the goods and their quality are said to significantly affect generating a favorable image of the company in buyers' minds. Authors have shown that quality characteristics can produce a beneficial impression in customers' minds that will be converted into a purchasing decision (Armstrong, Kotler, Buchwitz, Trifts, & Gaudet, 2016). A deciding feature for consumer satisfaction would be the handset's light characteristics, especially the quality of images and sound. Outcomes from another reverse logistics analysis showed that consumers' expectations of product characteristics would boost client purchasing patterns (Miao, Xu, Zhang, & Jiang, 2014). Therefore, observational research has demons and sets rated that consumers' cell phones have a stronger influence on sales in this sector.

The concept for disassembly is a technique utilized by professional lifecycle workers. Also, study results suggest that this approach will primarily be included in the electronic smart device recycling phase. This will increase these items' serviceability and end life cycle goals, such as recycling and reuse (Desai & Mital, 2003). Scientists believe, though, that the more the disassembly method lasts, the lower the gains. The report further emphasizes the significance of becoming active in bulk recycling to understand such recycling activities (Sodhi & Knight, 1998). The specification for disassembly procedures allows it possible for the items to be more refurbishment and recyclable. Moreover, the study emphasizes the value of non-destructive disassembly while preserving costs and minimizing the context's effect. Most of the study states that the method of reprocessing and recycling may be strengthened and made effective, with success factors in project efficiency for disassembly activities (Güngör, 2006).

 In this way, there is a requirement for a reverse logistics system that includes a successful progression of the discarded mobile phones due to technical fault or technology update, from the customer to the manufacturer so that they are recycled or reused (Li & Olorunniwo, 2008). Reverse Logistics is useful in limiting e-waste and improving consumer loyalty (Janse et al., 2010).

2. Purpose:

This study aims to realize the significance of reverse logistics, corresponding to the mobile phone industry. The mobile phone's life cycle is short, and along these lines, the client purchases another mobile, and the previous one adds to the electronic waste.

3. Literature Review:

3.1 Understanding Reverse Logistics:

Reverse Logistics is contrary to the forward supply chain as the products move from the end client back to the merchant or producer  (Abdulrahman, Gunasekaran, & Subramanian, 2014). In this process, the used products or discarded products are collected from the consumers, refurbished if required, or the parts are recycled and made into a new product and thus enters the supply chain. It is called reverse logistics as the products move in the opposite direction, from the customers to the manufacturers (Erol et al., 2010).

It can also be said that reverse logistics involves arranging and controlling the progression of finished products that are returned or discarded from the customer to the manufacturer (Li & Olorunniwo, 2008). As indicated (Erol et al., 2010), it is supposed to be a successful administration of the above said exercises for item recovery from the customer in order to arrange it or recover its value through reusing, and it has gained significance lately because due to reverse logistics accumulation of e-waste due to mobile phones can be minimized. Reverse logistics can be characterized as the way toward arranging, actualizing, and controlling the effective progression of raw materials, stock, completed products, and related data to further utilize it in making new products (Wang et al., 2013). It is exceptionally critical to spare

Consequently, numerous organizations are presently considering reverse logistics as a significant action deliberately to sustain their position in this ever-changing competitive world (Chiou, Chen, Yu, & Yeh, 2012). These days clients and purchasers acknowledge organizations that have implemented reverse logistics and are successful in their attempt. This, on the other hand, has helped to build customer loyalty as instead of discarding their mobile phone into landfill, they can exchange it for a new one by paying a little extra amount(Chiou et al., 2012).

Figure 1: Activities Involved in The Process Of Reverse Logistics

The above diagram shows the various activities involved in the process of reverse logistics. It shows the collection of the product back from the customer through the process of collection and selection. After which the product is recycled and returned to the industry and through the distributor, it again goes to the retailer and bought once again. 

3.2 Importance of Reverse Logistics In The Mobile Phone Industry:

Reverse logistics can make the profit cycle simple for the clients and help them exchange or discount their products quickly. Reverse logistics is also important for reliable exhibition and a quick reaction to returns, which can further improve customer loyalty, critical to business success (Chiou et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2013).  In the mobile phone industry, reverse logistics can expand proficiency, retain clients, and encourage industrial development.

Reverse logistics management is seen as the key for reducing production cost, improving customer satisfaction hence achieving a competitive advantage with increased profitability (Li & Olorunniwo, 2008). It can be said that through proper reverse logistics, a mobile phone company can save both cost of production and increased sales (Dowlatshahi, 2010).

3.3 Short Life Cycle of Mobile Phones:

Rapid development in science and innovation has brought about a shorter product lifecycle, particularly in innovation-based products like mobile phones. The life of a mobile phone is said to be normally around seven years, yet clients in developed nations regularly switch their mobile phones about every 20 months, driven by both the development of innovation and the propensity of customers to need a mobile phone with additional applications  (San & Pujawan, 2014).

Much research can be found about recycling durable products, however not related to short lifecycle items like mobile phones. Even though some research suggests that fruitful recycling requires items to have a long useful life and stable innovation, other methods help recycle short lifecycle items like mobile phones (San & Pujawan, 2014). The production cost can be reduced through reverse logistics as the parts can be recycled instead of getting new ones, which is quite significant for the mobile phone industry(Janse et al., 2010). It is exceptionally critical to spare the climate and common asset

There is a growing competition among numerous mobile phone organizations to make mobile phones with new features each day. This rivalry has given numerous alternatives to the customers, and they can choose mobile phones dependent on quality, highlights, and cost (West, 2019). The short life cycle is a significant downside with mobile phones and must be timely disintegrated as the buyers need mobile phones with new technology and features (Sahay, Srivastava, & Srivastava, 2006).

3.4 Need for Recovering Valuable Metals Present in Mobile Phones and How Recycling Can Help in Retrieving These Metals:

Mobile phones basically cannot be made without significant minerals - a bunch of them is needed to construct a mobile phone (Garber, Matlock, & Walkowitz, 2018). This incorporates silicon, carbon, calcium, iron, gold, copper, nickel, tin, and aluminum. Regarding mobile phones, keeping important and uncommon metals available for use is a magnificent method to spare our planet(Chiou et al., 2012). When the mobile phone gets outdated, a portion of its parts have not lost their worth, and leaving it in a cabinet someplace or discarding it would be a misuse of important materials which could make some way or another be recycled (Chiou et al., 2012). It is exceptionally critical to spare

Metal availability is diminishing, which has prompted mines getting more extensive and more profound, work costs expanding, working conditions lacking well-being, and the expense per kg of minerals going up, all of which make enormous sticker prices for our phones (Garber et al., 2018). It is critical to decreasing what you devour and reuse what is left. The metals extricated during the recycling, including gold, platinum, also, silver – are returned to profitable use (Janse et al., 2010). About 16% (by weight) of a normal mobile phone is considered 'high worth' materials. Metals with high qualities are present in very small quantities in the environment; therefore, they are valuable (Silveira & Chang, 2010). It is exceptionally critical to spare the climate

Mobile phones contain valuable metals, for example, silver and gold, and other important assets. Recycling a mobile phone implies that these assets can be separated from the mobile phone and reused once more (Sharma, Panda, Mahapatra, & Sahu, 2011).  There would be an assortment of valuable metals, copper, and plastics during recycling. Recycling or reusing preserves these important materials. However, it also diminishes ozone-depleting substance discharges that happen during assembling and keeping in mind removing and preparing virgin materials (Sharma et al., 2011).

Phones are made of important minerals that are progressively getting scant yet can be retrieved whenever reused. From 1 million reused mobile phones, we can recuperate pounds of copper, silver, gold, and palladium (Geyer & Blass, 2010). This chops down the measure of minerals mined to make new phones. For every million mobile phones that are reused, nearly 37,500 pounds in valuable metals can be recouped. Also, millions in gold, silver, and copper could be spared from being discarded. It is exceptionally critical to spare the climate and common asset Reverse logistics.  

It is exceptionally critical to spare the climate and common asset, and therefore reverse logistics should be seriously considered as far as the supply chain is concerned (Geyer & Blass, 2010). Therefore, to recover precious metals present in the discarded mobile phones, an effective reverse logistics system implementation is highly significant.

3.5 Accumulation of E-Waste with the Presence of Toxic Components in it and its Harms:

Discarded mobile phones create a lot of electronic waste or e-waste. For instance, lead is one of a mobile phone's components and is considered to trigger the arrangement of malignant growth, creating cells in the human body when exposed to it (Geyer & Blass, 2010). It may be acknowledged that a very small quantity of lead can severely affect the human body. Even, Chromium and Nickel that are also the components of mobile phone batteries, along with lead, are equally poisonous metals.

As per (Valente, 2020) in Argentina, a huge number of mobile phones are consistently disposed of or discarded by the customers, which discharge metals and hazardous substances and metals when exposed to the environment and this, in turn, pollutes the environment. Notwithstanding this, Argentina is said to create per capita of more than 1.5 kilograms of electronic waste each year, which is considered a very big amount of e-waste, and just 1.5% or not as much as this less is recycled.  Mounting e-waste has gotten expanding considerations from government, society, just as ventures for manageability concerns. E-waste has crushing outcomes on the climate. When mobile phones are inappropriately arranged, chlorine, lead, mercury, bromine, and other poisonous synthetics in the gadgets antagonistically influence the Earth (Janse et al., 2010).

Electronic waste contains harmful components, and when they are added to the landfills, it is very conceivable that they may get mixed up with soil and water and pollute them (West, 2019). Mobile phones end up in landfills. There is the danger that the unsafe substances inside them may filter into the encompassing area and streams (West, 2019).

3.6 Need for Mobile Phone Recycling

Every year, around 120 million mobile phones are disposed of. A few of these gadgets are reused or appropriately reused; a huge number rather turns up in the landfill. What is disturbing about the ascent in e-waste is that a huge segment is not waste (Geyer & Blass, 2010). Those disposed of gadgets might have been recycled, reused, or even repaired. There is a colossal absence of familiarity with adding to a manageable future (Sahay et al., 2006).

Figure 2: An Awareness of Mobile Phone Recycling

 One mobile phone recycled is one less that should be fabricated. Each mobile phone utilized for simply an extra year diminishes the strain on Earth's limited assets(Chiou et al., 2012). Each mobile phone refurbished can have a second, third, or fourth life in possession of another client before it arrives at its actual finish of-life (Sharma et al., 2011). 

In a not so distant future, the organizations should consider the reuse and recycling of mobile phones and the recuperation of the items that can be repetitively used, which is quite useful. This will empower the organizations to have legitimate coordination's foundations for recycling items instead of discarding them to the landfill (West, 2019).

Figure 3: Accumulation of Used and Discarded Mobile Phones

Earlier, the mobile phone customers used to discard the mobile phones in order to have a new and updated version of it, however, nowadays, utilized gadgets have become popular, and the buyers have gotten ecologically cognizant and do not have any desire to toss the mobile phones in landfills and get fresh ones (Grossman & Kilkelly, 2018). Consequently, there is a requirement for an appropriate reverse logistics system in this industry to create a more responsible economy (Grossman & Kilkelly, 2018). In the present consistently changing

One can have some effect and stop the contamination by reusing the phone rather than recklessly disposing of it. On account of imaginative advances, up to 82% of materials utilized in mobile phones can be recycled (Sharma et al., 2011).

We should consider the numerous natural, practical, and social advantages from recycling, reusing, restoring – and selling and exchanging – utilized mobile phones (Geyer & Blass, 2010). Everybody can affect by buying a mobile phone by exchanging, reusing, or revamping their pre-owned gadget (Sahay et al., 2006). Recycling only one mobile phone spares enough energy to control a PC for 44 hours. On the off chance that we reused the entirety of the 128 million phones thrown to the side every year in the US alone, we could spare enough energy to control in excess for a year (Geyer & Blass, 2010).

In the present consistently changing business situation, the organizations should chip away at effective utilization of assets, and this can be financially savvy and eco-accommodating and should be possible by expanding item life cycles(Geyer & Blass, 2010). Thus, these pre-owned items' assortment is significant for a manageable business practice (Jayant, Gupta, Garg, & Khan, 2014).

3.7 Use of Reverse Logistics to Reuse or Recycle Mobile Phones:

Reverse logistics is done to minimize pollution and save the environment. The used mobile phones are collected and refurbished if required or recycled for metal extraction, and these can be used to manufacture new parts that can be used in making new mobile phones. In addition to this, the safe disposal of harmful components present in mobile phones is also done through reverse logistics if the phone cannot be refurbished. For instance, mobile phones contain lithium-particle batteries, and these can cause fires when they end up in the landfill. Recusing mobile phones will guarantee that these batteries are discarded securely (West, 2019).

Reverse logistics is likewise picking up significance worldwide because of mindfulness and because of the exhaustion of assets and pollution of the climate (Abdulrahman et al., 2014). Reverse logistics prompts reusing electronic waste because the metals used to manufacture mobile phones are restricted, and recycling can be considered an ideal method for saving these metals from getting into the landfill (Silveira & Chang, 2010). If reverse logistics is considered appropriately, mobile phones can have a great reuse market(Abdulrahman et al., 2014). Whether handsets can be reused depends on their functional condition and a reuse market for mobile phones. For instance, in the USA, refurbishes use software programs to increase the reused mobile efficiency; after this, the reused phones are sold to developing countries like Africa and the Middle East(Geyer & Blass, 2010).

Latin America has a mobile phone reuse market as above because of the developing offer of mobile phones here. Additionally, in Brazil, a minimization program related to mobile phone electronic waste is significant because many zones do not have a legitimate removal office in any event for waste (Silveira & Chang, 2010). Moreover, if the

Moreover, if the mobile phone works and is in acceptable condition, it tends to be revamped and given as a charity to broaden the mobile phone's life (Grossman & Kilkelly, 2018). Purchasers hope to exchange an old item when they purchase another one. For instance, every time a customer buys a new Apple product at Apple, he is eligible for a discount if he wants to exchange it with an old product (Supply Chain Digest, 2009). Suppose the product is not eligible for the discount; his phone can be recycled for free. In the case of a mobile phone or Apple iPhone, a customer enjoys it until it is time to upgrade it. In this way, old mobile phones are gathered and brought back to the Apple factories. The mobile phones are then dissembled, and the parts like battery, microphones, speakers, circuit boards, screens that can be used in new phones from the old phones are collected. This way, it can save much money as production costs (Supply Chain Digest, 2009).

Mobile phones might be returned at various phases of their lifecycle. They may go for remanufacturing, fix, reconfiguring, and reusing, depending on their working condition. For instance, at Dell, if a product is returned, it is returned to usefulness by repairing it if required and then resold through its  Global Dell Outlet, and each such product carries a new warranty, and if it cannot be repaired, it is recycled responsibly (Dell,2020). E

-was

Figure 4: Showing Life Cycle of Mobile Phone

The above figure shows an extended life cycle of a mobile phone through reverse logistics. The used mobile phone is recycled, and the metals are extracted from it, and these are again sent to the manufacturing unit where a new phone is made from the extracted metals, and it is packaged and ready to be brought to the market for selling. A decent number of mobile phones contain huge

This reduces production cost as parts from old mobile phones are recycled to make new mobile phones(Geyer & Blass, 2010). Thus, it is required to successfully and productively attempt reverse logistics exercises (Sahay et al., 2006).

Recycling guarantees that valuable materials can be recycled, reducing the extraction of new raw materials. In numerous cases, mobile phones can be restored, re-utilized, or effectively reused through reverse logistics (San & Pujawan, 2014).

Metals recovered from reused phones are adaptable—they can be utilized in gems making, gadgets, and car production. Recovered plastics can be reused into plastic segments for new electronic gadgets and other plastic items, for example, garden furniture, plastic bundling, and vehicle parts. When battery-powered mobile phones' batteries can never again be reused, they can be reused to make other battery-powered items (San & Pujawan, 2014). There is a need for powerful reverse logistics. The executives should be utilized as a positive benefit place to cut costs and improve consumer loyalty.

3.8 Companies with the Successful Implementation of Reverse Logistics:

Apple has been a very good example of reverse logistics systems, and it has also been successful in this. At Apple, 15 different models of iPhone are disassembled in order to recover valuable metals like Copper, Nickel, and Aluminum so that they can be reused (Supply Chain Digest, 2009). After recovering these valuable metals, they are sent into the manufacturing process to recycle them.  The Cobalt used in making mobile batteries is recovered through the disassembling process and used for making new Apple phone batteries. For doing this, the Cobalt is combined with scrap collected from the manufacturing sites (Supply Chain Digest, 2009). In this way, the precious metal is recycled. Apple can do this through its Apple stores, and service providers network globally. Apple has optimized programs for its iPhone screen repairs and battery replacement. This has reduced the number of iPhones to be discarded by the users and has further helped reduce e-waste (Apple, n.d.).

Vodafone is a part of RE: MOBILE, and it is a mobile recycling program in the industry. RE: MOBILE is the only recognized scheme for recycling mobile phones in New Zealand. RE: MOBILE is not for profit scheme controlled and managed by Telecommunications Forum (TCF). RE: MOBILE ensures that the telecom industry manages e-waste responsibly

 RE: MOBILE has been accredited for its high environmental standards. The collected, used phones are refurbished and exported to other developing countries (Juliet Jones, 2020). If the used phones cannot be repaired for some reason, then it is dissembled, and the valuable components recovered from them are recycled. From the profits derived, a percentage of it is donated to the New Zealand charity program- sustainable coastlines for contributing to its hard work for waterways and coastline (Juliet Jones, 2020).

Reverse logistics in any firm would need extra time and attention for its proper management. For this, agents who excel in collecting used mobile phones, assembling, and recycling can be hired. For instance, in the USA, end-of-use cell phones are collected by municipalities as they are typically considered to oversee waste management.  These are taken back by original manufacturers as part of their environmental responsibility. Through 3PL, they usually outsource these operations.  Some 3PL are Greener Solutions in the UK and ReCellular and PaceButler in the USA, who have successfully collected used mobile phones and taken this as their business opportunity. They are the most proactive in mobile phone collection and handling directly. The used mobile phones are collected through drop-off bins and prepaid envelopes and boxes (Li & Olorunniwo, 2008).

Similarly, Samsung partnered with 3PL Newgistics and Postal Service of US for its buyback program in 2007 in order to start its recycling program, Samsung Take-back And Recycling (STAR) as an initiative to reduce e-waste and has been able to recycle around 13 million pounds of e-waste from its products like mobile phones, printers, and Laptops. It has established drop-off areas in more than 190 locations to take their unwanted electronics (Partridge, 2010). The customers can use a prepaid Smart Label and drop them into their mailbox in order to return old printer cartridges to Samsung

Through the recycling program, Samsung ensures that used mobile phones are safely refurbished or recycled for their usable components like cartridges (Partridge, 2010).

4. Analysis and Findings:

4.1 E-Waste Due to Mobile Phones Discarding:

A decent number of mobile phones contain an accumulation of e-waste due to discarding of mobile phones by the customers is a global issue faced by almost every country today as the mobile phones end up in landfill, and there is the danger that the unsafe substances inside them like lead and mercury may filter into the encompassing area and streams and pollute them. Millions of mobile phones are disposed of consistently globally every year, which poses a threat to human health and the environment, and as such, discarded mobile phones have become the quickest developing type of electronic waste (E-waste).

4.2 Discharge of Harmful Components Present in Mobile Phone Parts:

When discarded, mobile phones discharge hydrocarbons into the air and filter poisons into the grass, soil, trees, crops, and groundwater when copied and unloaded. Few micrograms of lead present in mobile phones are considered to trigger cancer-producing cells in the human body. Nickel and chromium are similarly poisonous metals, along with lithium-particle batteries, which can cause fires when they end up in the landfill. A decent number of mobile phones contain huge

 4.3 Possible Retrieval of Valuable Components:

Mobile phones contain valuable metals, for example, silver and gold, and other important assets. Recycling a mobile phone implies that these assets can be separated from the mobile phone and reused once more.  There would be an assortment of valuable metals, copper, and plastics during recycling. Recycling or reusing preserves these important materials as they are scarcely present.

4.4 Importance of Reverse Logistics for the Mobile Phone Industry:

The role of reverse logistics in the mobile phone industry is to prompt reusing e-waste through the successful gathering of discarded mobile phones, and they are re-usage and recycling by the manufacturers. During the recycling process, there would be an assortment of valuable metals, like copper, present in mobile phones as they have high qualities and have become scarce due to their overexploitation. For instance, an iPhone contains 0.03 grams of gold, 0.3gms of silver, and 0.01grams of palladium. It comprises 25 grams of aluminum and around 15 grams of copper, respectively, and about 95% can be recycled.

Therefore, it can be said that additionally, reverse logistics can be useful in removing such waste and recuperate materials that have high qualities as recycling or reusing preserves the important materials.

Mobile phone companies like Apple and Vodafone have implemented a successful reverse logistics system. Through it, they can satisfy their customers, increase their customers' loyalty, get a competitive advantage, and reduced their production cost as they are using components from the used or returned mobile phones and making new mobile phones. In this way, they have realized their responsibility to save the environment.

4.5 Mobile Company Policymakers to Consider Systematic Reverse Logistics Management:

 The mobile phone producing industry must be prepared to allow the customer flexibility of end-of-life (EOL) mobile phones to the specialist organization to reuse them. The industry chiefs must have enough information to characterize the points and advantages before sending the discarded mobile phones to specialist organizations. It might have the option to persuade about the organization's objective and wanted targets to the specialist organization. The top administration should precisely comprehend the objectives and destinations of the organization need to accomplish. The issue tended to here is to manufacture a quality choice help approach to assess and determine the best reverse logistics specialist organization.

5.  Conclusion:

Reverse logistics is highly significant for mobile phone companies. Reverse logistics is beneficial for reducing production costs. A systematic RL can help the company in meeting its goals, which are mainly maximizing profit and at the same time reducing the production cost because parts of used mobile phones can be recycled to be used in new mobile phones.

Reverse logistics prove to be helpful to minimize the e-waste due to mobile phones and suggests recycling, remanufacturing, and reusing them. This would help avoid the harmful components present in mobile phones to contaminate the environment. Moreover, many valuable components present in mobile phones can be retrieved and reused in other areas. This will further save them from depletion. Developing green concerns and progression of reverse logistics ideas and practices have spread concerns for the environment. In the present Mobile phone companies like Apple Inc. have successfully implemented reverse logistics and seeing its benefits. The return policy, recycling, and remanufacturing are the major areas they are focusing on to enhance customer satisfaction and increase customer value and competitive advantage. By doing this, Apple can fulfill its responsibility towards the environment and the community. A decent number of mobile phones contain huge volumes.

 Due to the growing demand for updated versions of mobile phones, especially in developing countries, competition has also increased, but awareness about natural issues, economical turn of events, and legitimate guidelines have made many associations receptive to reverse logistics. We should consider the numerous natural, practical, and social advantages from reusing, reusing, restoring – and selling and exchanging – utilized mobile phones. A decent number of mobile phones contain

6. Reflections:

6.1 Need for The Mobile Phone Industry to Consider the Importance Of Reverse Logistics:

Improvement of a sound reverse logistics framework is valuable to natural security, and the organizations may improve their budgetary well-being by giving the return skillfully. The mobile phone companies should establish reasonable and efficient reverse logistics channels as the economic value, instead of only focusing on forwarding logistics. Mobile phone companies should invest more in developing a new recycling system and integrating forward and reverse logistics into full account. R

6.2 Need for Awareness Among the Customers for Mobile Phone Recycling:

Customers ought to be urged to abstain from discarding a mobile phone with unsorted waste instead. The customers should be aware of the harmful impacts of e-waste on the environment and human health. They should be encouraged to exchange their mobile phones for new ones or to be given to someone who cannot afford it for reusing it. For instance, Dell offers 10% off on their electronics & accessories if the customers donate a PC to the National Cristina Foundation of US to help disabled and underprivileged people in the community (Chiou et al., 2012). When gathered, mobile phones should be assessed to decide if they are appropriate for recycling, with or without further fix (Wang et al., 2013).

6.3 Government Initiatives to Promote Reverse Logistics:

Reverse logistics practices help the enterprise to develop reverse logistics strategy and government to make industry policy. It is important to spread awareness about reverse logistics to enhance reverse logistics' publicity and step up the related legislation. Not only highlight the importance of reverse logistics, but the government should also encourage enterprises to realize the value brought in by reverse logistics and implement it in their business practices.  For instance, according to the European Union's WEEE (Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment), the producers' responsibility is to manage and finance all WEEE collection and treatment. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mentioned in its guidelines regarding the disposal of e-waste responsibly (Erol et al., 2010). It also states that the manufacturers should either take back used products or pay extra money while exporting their products to the EU. This has made manufacturers responsible for their products. This also gives manufacturing firms incentives through reuse or recycling. Reverse logistics in any firm would need extra time

7. Reflection:

 A lot more research work is required in this specific area as the domain is quite vast so that more people are made aware of the importance of reverse logistics in this specific industry. The awareness would encourage the entrepreneurs to realize the significance of reverse logistics similarly as they consider forward logistics. A lot more

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