Global Manufacturers' Approaches to Managing Waste in Their Production Networks

ABSTRACT This research investigates how global manufacturers organize local waste management within their global production networks to aid the implementation of circularity. This study aims to identify the approach to managing waste in the global production network and the extent of engaging in waste‐to‐resource activities. We methodologically study this through six industrial case studies in the household electronics industry, which we explore through qualitative analysis of archival data, such as sustainability and annual reports. Our findings reveal how bottom‐up and top‐down approaches to managing waste in the global production network are characterized. We further identify relationship management with external actors in the waste‐based supply chain. We identify and discuss how these two factors affect the global manufacturer's extent of engaging in waste‐to‐resource activities. This research contributes to academic understanding on global operations by identifying the factors that are required to enable circularity implementation for global manufacturers.