Reverse logistics refers to the logistics activity of recovering, reusing or disposing of sold or used products or resources from consumers or users. Reverse logistics corresponds to forward logistics, which refers to the logistics activity of transporting products or resources from producers or suppliers to consumers or users. Reverse logistics has important strategic significance in improving customer satisfaction, reducing logistics costs and protecting the environment.

According to data from the Champ Consulting Group,2020In 2010, the market size of China's reverse logistics sector was150Billion yuan, an increase over the previous year.25%. The size of the market in this area is2022Year reached200Billion yuan, year-on-year growth33.3%. expected2023By the end of the year, the market size in this area will reach260Billion yuan, year-on-year growth30%。

The development of China's reverse logistics industry is mainly affected by the following factors:

The first is the restriction and guidance of laws and regulations. With the introduction and improvement of China's circular economy law, solid waste pollution prevention and control law and other relevant laws and regulations, higher requirements and standards have been put forward for the recycling of waste products and resources, and policy support and regulatory protection have been provided for the reverse logistics industry.

The second is changes in consumer demand and behavior. With the improvement of the income level of Chinese residents and the change of consumption concept, consumers have higher expectations and requirements for the quality, function and after-sales service of products or services, and have stronger demand for reverse logistics services such as return, exchange and maintenance. At the same time, consumers are increasingly concerned about the impact of products or services on the environment and society, and have more preferences for recyclable, reusable, degradable and other green products or services.

The third is the promotion of technological innovation and application. With the continuous development and application of information technology, Internet technology, big data technology, artificial intelligence technology and other emerging technologies, it provides a strong technical support and innovation power for the reverse logistics industry. Through the establishment of a sound information system, the information sharing, coordination and optimization of each link in the process of reverse logistics are realized, and the efficiency and effect of reverse logistics are improved. Through the use of the Internet platform, expand the recovery channels of reverse logistics, increase the participation of reverse logistics, expand the market size of reverse logistics. By using big data technology and artificial intelligence technology, the demand, cost and risk of reverse logistics are analyzed and predicted, and intelligent support and guidance are provided for the decision-making and management of reverse logistics.

Fourth, the promotion of industry competition and cooperation. With the development of reverse logistics industry, the competition within the industry is becoming increasingly fierce. On the one hand, the traditional forward logistics enterprises have set foot in the field of reverse logistics, using their own advantages in logistics network, equipment, personnel, etc., to provide integrated forward and reverse logistics services and enhance their market competitiveness. On the other hand, professional reverse logistics companies are also emerging, using their expertise, technology and experience in the field of reverse logistics to provide customers with customized reverse logistics solutions and increase their market share. At the same time, cooperation within the industry is also increasing. On the one hand, the cooperation between the forward and reverse logistics enterprises, to achieve resource sharing, complementary advantages, risk sharing, benefit sharing. On the other hand, reverse logistics enterprises cooperate with government departments, social organizations and scientific research institutions to form a reverse logistics industry ecosystem with multi-participation and multi-benefit.

Although China's reverse logistics industry is developing rapidly, it still faces some challenges and problems. Mainly in the following aspects:

First, the laws and regulations are not perfect. At present, China's laws and regulations related to reverse logistics are not perfect and specific, lack of clear norms and constraints on reverse logistics behavior, and lack of effective incentives and protection for the reverse logistics industry. For example, there are no clear legal provisions on the recycling standards, responsibility subjects, cost sharing and other issues of waste products and resources, resulting in many difficulties and obstacles in the practice of reverse logistics industry.

Second, the information system is not perfect. At present, China's reverse logistics industry has not formed a unified, complete and efficient information system, resulting in the reverse logistics process between the various links of information is not smooth, uncoordinated, inaccurate. For example, in the recycling process, due to the lack of effective information platforms and channels, there are problems of information asymmetry and information mismatch between recycling needs and recycling capabilities. In the transportation process, due to the lack of effective information tracking and monitoring systems, problems such as delays, losses, and mismatches occur in the transportation process. In the processing process, due to the lack of effective information analysis and decision-making systems, this leads to problems such as waste of resources, increased costs, and reduced effects in the processing process.

Three is the recycling channel is not smooth. At present, China's reverse logistics industry has not established a wide coverage, convenient and efficient, low-cost recycling channel system, resulting in the recovery process there are small recovery range, low recovery efficiency, high recovery cost and so on. For example, in urban areas, due to the lack of specialized recycling points or poor distribution of recycling points, low recycling efficiency and high recycling costs. For example, in urban areas, due to the lack of specialized recycling points or uneven distribution of recycling points, consumers or users discard or dispose of waste products and resources at will, resulting in waste of resources and environmental pollution. In rural areas, the lack of effective recycling organizations or the inefficiency of recycling organizations leads to the backlog of waste products and resources or the sale of low prices, resulting in the loss of resource value and economic losses.

Four is insufficient processing capacity. At present, China's reverse logistics industry has not formed a high level, high efficiency, high quality processing capacity system, resulting in the processing process there are backward processing technology, lack of processing equipment, processing personnel shortage and other issues. For example, in the remanufacturing process, due to the lack of advanced remanufacturing technology and equipment, the remanufacturing process has problems such as unstable quality, low efficiency, and low cost. In the reuse process, due to the lack of effective reuse methods and channels, there are problems such as insufficient demand, unreasonable prices, and irregular markets in the reuse process. In the disposal process, due to the lack of reasonable disposal methods and facilities, problems such as pollution emissions, safety hazards, and social conflicts occur during the disposal process.

Although China's reverse logistics industry is facing some challenges and problems, there are also great potential and opportunities for development. Mainly in the following aspects:

One is policy support and guidance. With the development and transformation of China's economy and society, the government's attention and support for the reverse logistics industry are also being strengthened. Government departments provide a favorable institutional environment and policy conditions for the reverse logistics industry by formulating and improving relevant laws and regulations, policies and measures, standards and norms. Government departments provide strong economic incentives and guarantees for the reverse logistics industry by providing financial subsidies, tax incentives, and financial support. Government departments have provided effective social promotion and services for the reverse logistics industry through publicity and education, demonstration guidance, supervision and evaluation, etc.

The second is market demand and potential. With the growth of China's population and the improvement of consumption level, the waste products and resources produced by positive logistics are also increasing, which provides a huge market demand and potential for the reverse logistics industry. According to data from the Champ Consulting Group,2022In, the scale of China's e-commerce market reached a new high, and the turnover of national e-commerce platforms43.8Trillion yuan, calculated on a comparable basis, an increase over the previous year.3.5%. In these transactions, there are15%goods and services were returned, resulting in6.57The amount of the return of trillion yuan. expected2023By the end of the year, China's e-commerce turnover will reach60Trillion yuan, the return amount will reach10trillion yuan. These returned products need to be recycled through reverse logistics, which brings huge business opportunities to the reverse logistics industry.

Third, technological innovation and application. With the progress and innovation of science and technology, the reverse logistics industry is also constantly introducing and applying new technologies, new equipment, new methods, etc., providing a strong technical support and innovation power for the reverse logistics industry. For example, in the recycling process, through the use of two-dimensional codes,RFIDand other technologies to achieve rapid identification, positioning and tracking of waste products and resources, and improve the accuracy and efficiency of recycling. In the transportation link, through the use of unmanned, unmanned aerial vehicles and other technologies, the intelligent, automated and low-carbon transportation of waste products and resources is realized, and the cost and risk of transportation are reduced. In the processing link, through the use3DPrinting, Internet of Things and other technologies to achieve efficient, personalized and intelligent processing of waste products and resources, and improve the quality and value of processing.

Fourth, industry cooperation and win-win. With the development of the reverse logistics industry, the cooperation inside and outside the industry is constantly strengthened and deepened, providing a broad space for cooperation and win-win opportunities for the reverse logistics industry. For example, within the industry, cooperation between positive and negative logistics enterprises to achieve resource sharing, complementary advantages, risk sharing, benefit sharing. Outside the industry, reverse logistics enterprises cooperate with government departments, social organizations, scientific research institutions, etc. to form a reverse logistics industry ecosystem with multi-participation and multi-benefit.

To sum up, China's reverse logistics industry has achieved remarkable development results in recent years, but it still faces some challenges and problems. In order to realize the sustainable development of the reverse logistics industry, this paper suggests that the reverse logistics industry should strengthen the following measures:

The first is to strengthen the formulation and improvement of laws and regulations. According to the characteristics and needs of the reverse logistics industry, government departments should formulate and improve relevant laws and regulations, clarify the norms and constraints of reverse logistics behavior, protect the legitimate rights and interests of the reverse logistics industry, and promote the standardized development of the reverse logistics industry.

The second is to strengthen the construction and improvement of information systems. Reverse logistics enterprises should use emerging technologies to establish a sound information system to achieve information sharing, coordination and optimization of all aspects of the reverse logistics process, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of reverse logistics.

The third is to strengthen the expansion and optimization of recycling channels. Reverse logistics enterprises should use the Internet platform to expand recycling channels, increase recycling subjects, expand recycling scope, reduce recycling costs, and improve recycling efficiency.

The fourth is to strengthen the improvement and innovation of processing capacity. Reverse logistics enterprises should use new technologies, new equipment, new methods, etc. to enhance processing capacity, innovate processing methods, improve processing quality, and increase processing value.

The fifth is to strengthen the deepening and expansion of industry cooperation. Reverse logistics enterprises should cooperate with positive logistics enterprises, government departments, social organizations, scientific research institutions, etc., to form a reverse logistics industry ecosystem with multi-participation and multi-benefit.