Mapping reverse logistics: Research insights, environmental impacts, and pathways to sustainability

Reverse logistics, involving the return, recycling, and repurposing of products, is increasingly recognized not only as an environmental imperative but also as a critical field within economics and management. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 3,085 documents from Scopus to investigate how reverse logistics has evolved in business, management, and economics research. By employing performance analysis and science mapping, the study identifies key publication trends, influential authors and institutions, and thematic clusters with a particular focus on cost efficiency, supply chain decision-making, and strategic management. The findings highlight the growing role of reverse logistics in achieving competitive advantage, enhancing ESG performance, and supporting circular economy models. By narrowing its lens to the economics and management perspective, this review provides a roadmap for scholars and practitioners to integrate reverse logistics into sustainable business strategies, thereby aligning with the journal’s scope and contributing to the advancement of management research.