Creating value, not waste: Ecosystem collaboration for take-back

A take-back system can reduce the usage of virgin natural resources by reusing discarded products. However, if actors in the take-back system treat the discarded products as waste, the reuse value potential is lost. A situation that negatively impacts the sustainability and financial performance of...

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Main Authors: Torben Pedersen, Rasmus Jørgensen, Johan Lilja, Christer Hedlund
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Cleaner Environmental Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789425000145
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author Torben Pedersen
Rasmus Jørgensen
Johan Lilja
Christer Hedlund
author_facet Torben Pedersen
Rasmus Jørgensen
Johan Lilja
Christer Hedlund
author_sort Torben Pedersen
collection DOAJ
description A take-back system can reduce the usage of virgin natural resources by reusing discarded products. However, if actors in the take-back system treat the discarded products as waste, the reuse value potential is lost. A situation that negatively impacts the sustainability and financial performance of the take-back system. The study explores the reuse of discarded white goods using data from multiple take-back value streams for discarded white goods. This is not an ideal case of a take-back system but rather a case showing some of the challenges in creating an efficient one. The study identifies interest alignment between collaborating actors as a key condition for maximizing the recoverability of discarded products, capturing value, and reducing value loss. Additionally, information asymmetry impacts value loss and financial performance. The study proposes introducing governance mechanisms and leads firm initiatives to promote conditions conducive to ecosystem actor alignment. An effective take-back system usually requires a lead firm - an orchestrator - responsible for the structure and performance of the take-back system, including governance, commercial arrangements, go-to-market coordination, value creation mechanisms, value sharing mechanisms, and risk management.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-e61b9292fa3f4cafb5e43f73c27246a02025-08-20T03:53:52ZengElsevierCleaner Environmental Systems2666-78942025-06-011710026810.1016/j.cesys.2025.100268Creating value, not waste: Ecosystem collaboration for take-backTorben Pedersen0Rasmus Jørgensen1Johan Lilja2Christer Hedlund3Copenhagen Business School, Department of Strategy and Innovation, DenmarkCopenhagen Business School, Department of Strategy and Innovation, Denmark; Corresponding author.Midsweden University, Department of Communication, Quality Management and Information Systems (KKI), DenmarkMidsweden University, Department of Communication, Quality Management and Information Systems (KKI), DenmarkA take-back system can reduce the usage of virgin natural resources by reusing discarded products. However, if actors in the take-back system treat the discarded products as waste, the reuse value potential is lost. A situation that negatively impacts the sustainability and financial performance of the take-back system. The study explores the reuse of discarded white goods using data from multiple take-back value streams for discarded white goods. This is not an ideal case of a take-back system but rather a case showing some of the challenges in creating an efficient one. The study identifies interest alignment between collaborating actors as a key condition for maximizing the recoverability of discarded products, capturing value, and reducing value loss. Additionally, information asymmetry impacts value loss and financial performance. The study proposes introducing governance mechanisms and leads firm initiatives to promote conditions conducive to ecosystem actor alignment. An effective take-back system usually requires a lead firm - an orchestrator - responsible for the structure and performance of the take-back system, including governance, commercial arrangements, go-to-market coordination, value creation mechanisms, value sharing mechanisms, and risk management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789425000145Circular economyTake-back systemValue streamGovernance mechanism
spellingShingle Torben Pedersen
Rasmus Jørgensen
Johan Lilja
Christer Hedlund
Creating value, not waste: Ecosystem collaboration for take-back
Cleaner Environmental Systems
Circular economy
Take-back system
Value stream
Governance mechanism
title Creating value, not waste: Ecosystem collaboration for take-back
title_full Creating value, not waste: Ecosystem collaboration for take-back
title_fullStr Creating value, not waste: Ecosystem collaboration for take-back
title_full_unstemmed Creating value, not waste: Ecosystem collaboration for take-back
title_short Creating value, not waste: Ecosystem collaboration for take-back
title_sort creating value not waste ecosystem collaboration for take back
topic Circular economy
Take-back system
Value stream
Governance mechanism
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789425000145
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AT rasmusjørgensen creatingvaluenotwasteecosystemcollaborationfortakeback
AT johanlilja creatingvaluenotwasteecosystemcollaborationfortakeback
AT christerhedlund creatingvaluenotwasteecosystemcollaborationfortakeback