POSSIBILITIES OF SUSTAINABLE REVERSE LOGISTICS APPLICATION IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES: THEORETICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

In today's business world, the organization of sustainable reverse logistics is becoming increasingly important for small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs). Reverse logistics (RL), identified with reverse logistics, also known as return logistics, includes the processes of returned goods that directly or indirectly affect sustainability and are interconnected (Maheswari et al., 2020). These processes help reduce waste, conserve resources and optimize costs. The European Union's Green Deal initiatives encourage companies to invest in sustainability. In order to contribute to environmental protection and social responsibility, business entities are increasingly determined to optimize their business processes and integrate sustainable innovations into their business processes. The aim of the study is to analyze the factors limiting the organization of sustainable reverse logistics and to provide recommendations on how to improve its application in SMEs. The main obstacles are related to the lack of investment in the latest technologies and training, difficulties in coordinating logistics processes, recycling of returned materials, ensuring quality control and limited cooperation in the supply chain. These factors, together with a fragmented view of the benefits of sustainable reverse logistics, make it difficult to achieve long-term sustainability goals.