ABSTRACT
Based upon the general structure and definitions described above, we can now look at the major segments of the closed loop supply chain (CLSC) market (Table 3.1). This includes the following major segments:
■ Technical and industrial products (high tech) ■ Consumer products ■ “Green” products ■ Packing, pallets, and containers ■ Waste and trash
Since the general subject of waste disposal and recycling has been covered in some depth elsewhere,* we will primarily focus this discussion on the first two (high tech products and consumer products), which represent areas of high growth business potential. The basic business model for these segments can be identified generically in terms of the business process flow shown in Figure 3.1. In general, products and material in the field move through reverse logistics (RL) and repair services either back to the original buyer and user, or to other users, or to final
Segments Underlying Market Characteristics Implications for Third Party Logistics
disposal. From this fairly simplistic view, we will explore more specific market issues in terms of dynamics and segmentation.
