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Closed‐Loop Supply Chains for Photovoltaic Panels: A Case‐Based Approach
Author(s) -
Besiou Maria,
Wassenhove Luk N.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of industrial ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.377
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1530-9290
pISSN - 1088-1980
DOI - 10.1111/jiec.12297
Subject(s) - photovoltaic system , supply chain , business , environmental economics , legislation , directive , supply chain management , european union , production (economics) , industrial organization , operations management , computer science , marketing , engineering , economics , electrical engineering , macroeconomics , political science , law , programming language , economic policy
Summary Photovoltaic (PV) waste is expected to significantly increase. However, legislation on producer responsibility for the collection and recovery of PV panels is limited to the European Union (EU) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive Recast, which lays down design, collection, and recovery measures. Academic knowledge of closed‐loop supply chains (CLSCs) for PV panels is scarce. We analyze the supply chain using multiple cases involving the main stakeholders in the design, production, collection, and recovery of PV panels. Our article answers two research questions: How does the PV supply chain operate, and what are critical factors affecting the reverse supply chain management of used panels? Our research seeks to fill the gap in the CLSC literature on PV panels, as well as to identify barriers and enablers for PV panel design, collection, and recycling.