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To achieve circularity in supply chains, you need visibility into reverse logistics. But there's an important nuance: without knowing why each product was returned, manufacturers can't repair and/or resell products. There’s a lot of inventory that gets tossed into landfills because manufacturers don’t have visibility into the "why" of each return. This is a lot of money lost for businesses and a tragedy for the environment. Many retailers send returned items to manufacturers periodically in large batches, but without specifying what’s wrong with each individual product. Some may have absolutely nothing wrong with them: in some cases, consumers can simply change their minds. So how can manufacturers and retailers work together to keep more product out of the landfill? It turns out there are many ways: ➡️ Sharing detailed returns data and reason codes to identify the root causes of returns and inform product design and assortment planning. ➡️ Partnering on customer-centric returns policies that provide a seamless experience while minimizing abuse from serial returners. ➡️ Aligning on product packaging and labeling to enable faster processing and disposition of returns using standardized barcodes and RFID tags. ➡️ Collaborating on secondary market channels to resell returned products. ➡️ Optimizing transportation networks by sharing forecasts and leveraging each other's physical footprints. ➡️ Jointly investing in reverse logistics technologies like returns management systems, demand forecasting, and inventory visibility. With collaboration, returns can become a growth opportunity and a marketing point for consumers who increasingly care about sustainability. This review summarizes the insights from over 100 papers: https://buff.ly/3yxi9iy The Visibility Council's Partners are exploring the tech stack that will enable collaborations with both downstream and upstream partners. Learn more about us: https://buff.ly/3RwnyMG #circulareconomy #circularity #supplychain

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