The application of blockchain technology in the recycling chain: a state-of-the-art literature review and conceptual framework
The application of blockchain technology in the recycling chain: a state-of-the-art literature review and conceptual framework
More practitioners are embracing blockchain technology to improve recycling performance. However, current research on the use of blockchain is mostly confined to general discussions on sustainable supply chains and circular economy, with limited studies specifically focusing on the recycling chain. This paper conducts a thorough content-based review of the literature related to the application of blockchain technology in the recycling chain with the objective to identify a conceptual framework. Although descriptive and thematic analyses show limited developments, blockchain technology can offer four distinct functions in the recycling chain: transparency, integration, behaviour channelisation, and service transformation. The adoption of blockchain in this area has technical, organisational, and environmental limitations that have not been overcome yet. In terms of benefits, blockchain technology improves recycling performance in terms of cost, dependability, flexibility, sustainability, and risk reduction. To summarise the findings, the paper proposes a novel conceptual framework for blockchain implementations in the recycling chain to support practitioners and guide scholars in further blockchain technology exploration.
Blockchain technology, literature review, recycling chain, sustainability, sustainable supply chain
Xie, Shenghao
218c6b7c-71c9-4acf-b995-05aad9557d8d
Gong, Dr Yu (Jack)
86c8d37a-744d-46ab-8b43-18447ccaf39c
Kunc, Martin
0b254052-f9f5-49f9-ac0b-148c257ba412
Wen, Zongguo
aab1459a-3e69-4e50-8c79-1412984bbdfc
Brown, Steve
a7996369-aadc-4fb8-a283-37851cf09e30
7 December 2022
Xie, Shenghao
218c6b7c-71c9-4acf-b995-05aad9557d8d
Gong, Dr Yu (Jack)
86c8d37a-744d-46ab-8b43-18447ccaf39c
Kunc, Martin
0b254052-f9f5-49f9-ac0b-148c257ba412
Wen, Zongguo
aab1459a-3e69-4e50-8c79-1412984bbdfc
Brown, Steve
a7996369-aadc-4fb8-a283-37851cf09e30
Xie, Shenghao, Gong, Dr Yu (Jack), Kunc, Martin, Wen, Zongguo and Brown, Steve
(2022)
The application of blockchain technology in the recycling chain: a state-of-the-art literature review and conceptual framework.
International Journal of Production Research.
(doi:10.1080/00207543.2022.2152506).
Abstract
More practitioners are embracing blockchain technology to improve recycling performance. However, current research on the use of blockchain is mostly confined to general discussions on sustainable supply chains and circular economy, with limited studies specifically focusing on the recycling chain. This paper conducts a thorough content-based review of the literature related to the application of blockchain technology in the recycling chain with the objective to identify a conceptual framework. Although descriptive and thematic analyses show limited developments, blockchain technology can offer four distinct functions in the recycling chain: transparency, integration, behaviour channelisation, and service transformation. The adoption of blockchain in this area has technical, organisational, and environmental limitations that have not been overcome yet. In terms of benefits, blockchain technology improves recycling performance in terms of cost, dependability, flexibility, sustainability, and risk reduction. To summarise the findings, the paper proposes a novel conceptual framework for blockchain implementations in the recycling chain to support practitioners and guide scholars in further blockchain technology exploration.
Text
Xie et al. (2022) The application of blockchain technology in the recycling chain- a state-of-the-art literature review and conceptual framework
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 15 November 2022
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 December 2022
Published date: 7 December 2022
Keywords:
Blockchain technology, literature review, recycling chain, sustainability, sustainable supply chain
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 473378
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/473378
ISSN: 0020-7343
PURE UUID: f24eb588-d277-4564-b6a7-844ec6dc93cb
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Date deposited: 17 Jan 2023 17:36
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 07:36
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Author:
Shenghao Xie
Author:
Zongguo Wen
Author:
Steve Brown
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