Marah Almelhem
58855148400
Publications - 7
Comparison of sustainability and circularity indicators: downstream vs. upstream supply chain strategies
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2025-12-01
Volume: 6
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
In the quest for sustainable and circular practices within supply chains, both downstream and upstream strategies play pivotal roles. This structured literature review aims to compare the indicators of sustainability and circularity between downstream and upstream supply chain strategies, evaluating their impact through practical cases and empirical studies. The downstream strategies, which focus on waste management, customer engagement, and reverse network planning, are explored alongside upstream strategies such as sourcing environmentally friendly raw materials and integrating design for circularity principles. This paper assesses the efficacy of these strategies through a comprehensive review of scholarly articles, reports, and case studies in achieving sustainability and circularity goals. The literature review reveals that downstream strategies often face challenges related to felxibility and operational efficiency while crucial for managing end-of-life products and optimizing resource utilization. Conversely, upstream strategies, emphasizing eco-friendly sourcing and circular design principles which demonstrate significant potential for long term sustainability and circularity. Practical cases illustrate how upstream interventions can lead to reduced environmental impact, enhanced resource efficiency, and increased product longevity across various industries. Furthermore, the review highlights the interconnectedness of downstream and upstream strategies within the broader supply chain ecosystem. Synergistic approaches that integrate both strategies demonstrate the highest potential for driving transformative change towards sustainable and circular supply chains. Ultimately, this review underscores the importance of integrated approaches that leverage both downstream and upstream strategies to achieve lasting environmental and economic benefits to provides insights for policymakers and researchers seeking to prioritize interventions that maximize sustainability and circularity across the supply chain.
Open Access: Yes
Stakeholders analysis of deposit refund waste collection system based on quality function deployment method
Publication Name: Cleaner Waste Systems
Publication Date: 2025-12-01
Volume: 12
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study proposes a structured conceptual model for analyzing stakeholder complexity within Hungary's newly implemented Deposit Refund System (DRS), using the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) framework. A House of Quality (HoQ) matrix was developed to map the relationships between the functional features of the system and the specific requirements of key stakeholders, including government, system operators, manufacturers, retailers, and customers. A qualitative focus group method was applied to gather expert input and evaluate system features based on stakeholder experience and the evolving Hungarian context. Rather than aiming for statistical generalization, the study focuses on illustrating how structured modeling can reveal stakeholder trade-offs and support strategic alignment in complex waste collection systems. Findings highlight areas of convergence and divergence among stakeholders and demonstrate the utility of the QFD-based approach in designing adaptable, stakeholder-informed DRS models. The results are particularly relevant for countries in the early stages of DRS implementation or those seeking to redesign existing systems to better integrate technical feasibility and stakeholder priorities.
Open Access: Yes
Municipal Household Waste Management Methodologies in the EU Countries: A Reverse Logistics Benchmarking Approach
Publication Name: Lecture Notes on Multidisciplinary Industrial Engineering
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: Part F4026
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 100-109
Description:
Through the application of a reverse logistics benchmark approach, this paper aims to investigate prevailing waste management practices in the European Union (EU) countries. In detail, it will analyze existing waste management practices, identify successful efforts, and identify areas for improvement within the EU region, in order to answer how can different collection waste management practices promote sustainability and integrate with reverse supply network? In this article, a structured literature review is carried out to examine the existing literature background, and public reports are collected and analyzed published by EU nations on waste management. The aim of the article is to understand their current state and evaluate the applicability of reverse logistics techniques in enhancing waste collection, recycling, and disposal. By answering the research question, the examination can provide valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, as well as those involved in managing waste or stakeholders with an interest in enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of waste management practices in EU countries.
Open Access: Yes
The Role of Blockchain and IOT in Reverse Logistics: the Impacts on the Environmental and Economical Sustainability – A Structured Literature Review
Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions
Publication Date: 2023-01-01
Volume: 107
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 433-438
Description:
This paper aims to present the potential of the Internet of Things and Blockchain applications in enhancing the sustainability of reverse logistics processes. Logistics operations play a vital role in supply chain management and are often referred to as the "dynamo" of the process. Reverse logistics is imperative to bridge the gap between forward logistics (the initial movement of goods) and backward logistics (the movement of products in the opposite direction) to close the supply chain loop and achieve a more sustainable operation that is both environmentally and economically efficient. To achieve this objective, the paper undertook a structured literature review using three renowned databases, namely, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science, via a mapping study. The investigation focused on exploring the sustainable aspects of reverse logistics, which can help organizations attain better environmental and economic returns. Additionally, the paper emphasizes how the Internet of Things and Blockchain applications can contribute to more economical and environmentally sustainable management of reverse logistics operations. The results highlight the key strategies, benefits, barriers, research gaps, and future research directions associated with the integration of these technologies in reverse logistics operations.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3303/CET23107073
Statistical Analysis of Companies' Logistics Systems
Publication Name: Wseas Transactions on Business and Economics
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 22
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 2185-2197
Description:
COVID-19, officially SARS-CoV-2, which originated in China in December 2019, has fundamentally disrupted globalization and economic growth. The strain on supply chains is difficult to manage, and it is expected that the problems can only be resolved once the pandemic is over, which could lead to a further increase in economic and globalization growth. Consumer goods reach the final consumer through supply chains and supply networks, and these supply chains are increasingly playing a role in fostering collaborative relationships across international companies. As a result, companies are becoming stronger, more developed, and growing. Logistics is an important part of a company's operations, managing the flow of materials. The development and positioning of logistics within a company have a major impact on the company's performance, its role in the supply chain, and its competitiveness. Advanced, large companies now consider the senior manager responsible for material flow processes to be the head of the supply chain within their company, as the process from raw material to consumer must be managed and controlled as a whole. Performance must also be assessed in context, recognizing the differences between companies that give them a competitive advantage or disadvantage. In addition, the aim is to develop sustainable logistics at the company level, which will be achieved in companies that pay particular attention to the strategic role of logistics within the company. The use of statistical methods to analyze these relationships is not common in business practice, but it can provide important information and can also be a major aid to future decision-making.
Open Access: Yes
Industry 4.0 for sustainable reverse waste collection: A systematic literature review
Publication Name: Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 19
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: Despite ongoing efforts to improve resource recovery, waste continues to end up in landfills. Companies are increasingly pressured to address sustainability, particularly under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks. Objectives: This article examines how Industry 4.0 technologies can enhance the sustainability of waste collection within reverse logistics systems. By exploring the link among waste management, reverse logistics and Industry 4.0, the study identifies opportunities to improve resource use, reduce environmental impact and boost operational efficiency. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using ScienceDirect and Web of Science database, two major databases, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided mapping study clearly, illustrated inclusion and exclusion steps. Keywords were structured using the PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcome) approach, resulting in 47 articles analysed and categorised into five themes. Results: The review identifies five key thematic areas in the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies with reverse logistics: collection system design and optimisation, application of core Industry 4.0; stakeholder engagement and consumer participation, policy frameworks and governance and barriers to efficient collection. While Industry 4.0 tools improve routing, traceability and efficiency, their impact increases when aligned with supportive policies and user engagement. Decentralised models, EPR schemes and incentive-driven systems significantly enhance return rates and environmental outcomes. Conclusion: The synergy between technological innovation, infrastructure planning and behavioural incentives is vital for effective reverse logistics. The review highlights limited empirical validation and calls for research on aligning technology adoption with local policy and informal sector realities. Contribution: This review introduces a conceptual framework integrating five interdependent dimensions, offering a unified framework for sector-wide sustainable reverse logistics.
Open Access: Yes
Investigating the Operational Efficiency for the Small Asian Retailer Stores under the Deposit Refund System: Hungary Case Study
Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 121
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 85-90
Description:
Waste management is crucial to achieving global sustainability goals, with the Deposit Refund System (DRS) emerging under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to enhance recycling rates by incentivising consumers to return beverage containers through refundable deposits. In Hungary, large retailers are required to participate in DRS, while small retailers may join voluntarily. This research aims to identify key factors influencing the voluntary participation of small Asian retail stores, focusing on economic, operational, regulatory, and social aspects. Using semi-structured interviews with ten stores in Budapest and Győr, a thematic analysis identified both motivators and barriers to participation. Findings indicate environmental awareness among participants, but low operational capacity, with space constraints, labour demands, and unclear regulations limiting engagement. Financial concerns, particularly equipment and handling costs, were major deterrents, while the potential for increased customer traffic was seen as a benefit. The study highlights the need for targeted financial incentives, infrastructure support, and clear policy communication to increase the inclusion of small retailers in DRS frameworks.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3303/CET25121015
