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Enhancing Sustainability through Reverse Logistics: A Case Study of the Fashion Industry
Aboueldahab, Layan
Aboueldahab, Layan
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Abstract
This dissertation presents an urgent challenge for consideration in the fashion sector, one that
bends around environmental sustainability for the industry, and examines the potential for reverse
logistics to limit waste while enabling sustainable circular economies. With our systematic
literature review and cases on brands such as H&M, Zara, and Centerpoint, we identify phenomena
such as take-back schemes, resale sites, and AI-enabled returns as significant reverse logistics
strategies which can lead to increased efficiencies, lowered waste, and improved consumer
engagement.
Through our analysis, it became evident that reverse logistics can lead to positive outcomes of
economic and sustainability value and, in many cases, additional benefits; however, industry-wide
potential may be limited by such factors as high costs, unpredictability of regulations across
countries, and low consumer participation. The results from this study indicated that the fashion
sector could potentially transform by leveraging digital technologies, developing partnerships with
key stakeholders, and aligning reverse logistics with organizational strategy.
Ultimately, the current findings assist brands in articulating a credible plan to operationalize
scalable, responsible supply chain options. By identifying direct reverse logistics, this research
demonstrates how the fashion sector has an opportunity to create a pathway for change to the
industry and offers potential for ensuring a more sustainable future in fashion in, perhaps, a modest
way.