Factors affecting the Circular Supply Chain and Zero Waste: A Systematic Literature Review

The current rate of resource consumption is alarming and if things proceed at the same level, we will soon be facing a global emergency. The circular supply chain has become quite relevant. However, the shift from a linear model to a circular one required organizational support at multiple levels. The CSC emphasizes the adoption of reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing. Incorporating circularity in the supply chain offers unique opportunities for making it possible to implement supply chain operations in the long run. Although the importance of this shift is huge, organizations are still facing trouble bringing about this change successfully because of the lack of knowledge about barriers to implementation, risks, and success factors. This research was carried out to identify barriers to circular supply chain implementation and factors in implementing circular supply chains. Identifications of these elements from a perspective that a generalized approach needs to be drawn to help organizations/industries of all types and sizes can help them develop the appropriate strategies for effectively handling circular supply chain practices. For the identification, PRISMA analysis was carried out. Primary relevant studies were selected through different sources of data including Google Scholar, Science Direct, JSTOR, Web of Science, Emerald Insights, and IEEE. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were then followed to filter the studies. Finally, 21 studies were made part of the final research. These studies provided insights into the barriers and success factors in implementing the CSC. 17 barriers that make it difficult to practice a circular supply chain and 9 factors to implement a circular supply chain were identified. More studies can be scrutinized to explore the ranking of these barriers and enablers to assist organizations in designing a reliable framework for change implementation. The findings can also help contribute towards transforming supply chains. They can be utilized to encourage economic well-being and minimize the issue of over-consumption of resources that industries are facing at a global level.