Closed-loop supply chain network design in the tire industry: a review of recent work, opportunities and unexplored directions

The tire industry faces increasing environmental, social, and economic challenges due to growing global demand, the non-biodegradable nature of tires, and the environmental risks associated with the improper management of End-of-Life (EoL) tires. Closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) networks offer strategic and tactical solutions by integrating forward and reverse logistics activities to support tire collection, retreading, recycling, and recovery. The purpose of this study is to systematically review and synthesise the existing literature on CLSC network design modelling in the tire industry, identify research trends and methodological developments, evaluate the extent to which sustainability dimensions have been addressed, and highlight promising directions for future research. To this end, this paper presents a unified survey of CLSC network design studies and optimisation models related to the tire industry. To provide a broader perspective on research trends in CLSC networks, for bibliometric analysis the review also considers CLSC network design studies in industries with similar recovery and recycling structures, including aluminum, glass, steel, and lead-acid batteries. A total of 261 articles published between 1997 and May 2026 were collected, of which 73 specifically focus on the tire industry. Bibliometric analyses are conducted using the complete dataset of 261 articles, while the detailed literature review and classification are devoted exclusively to the 73 tire-related studies. The reviewed papers are analysed according to network structures, modelling assumptions, optimisation approaches, and solution methodologies. The review identifies several underexplored research themes in tire CLSC network design, including the incorporation of International Commercial Terms (Incoterms) contracts, customer segmentation in product recovery processes, the impact of advertising and awareness campaigns on return rates, and network redesign under dynamic market and regulatory conditions. The review further shows that existing studies predominantly focus on economic objectives, while environmental considerations have received growing attention and social sustainability aspects remain relatively underexplored. By highlighting research trends, methodological developments, sustainability considerations, and future research opportunities, this review provides a roadmap for developing more balanced and sustainable CLSC network designs in the tire industry.