Tags:circular economy, electric vehicles, logistics service provider and participatory action research
Abstract:
Post-Brexit, the UK faces a critical junction towards increased sustainability. Its ambitions to ban new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 and attain net zero by 2050 depend significantly on the prevalent use of battery energy storage, crucial for electric vehicles. Nonetheless, there is a stark gap between these lofty climate targets and the readiness of key materials for these goals. The Circular Economy (CE) can bridge this gap, tackling resource scarcity, waste reduction, and environmental sustainability. Regrettably, the dominant Supply Chain (SC) management model, centred on production, often neglects the crucial roles of Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) as SC operators and potential value creators. Therefore, an integrated approach to logistics management is needed, considering both forward logistics and waste disposal. LSPs, although operating in a multi-actor logistical cooperation industry, often lack the knowledge to unlock circular value. By integrating Resource-Based and Natural Resource-Based View theories, LSPs can holistically craft competitive advantages in circular SCs. Through a case study with CEVA Logistics, this research identified levers to enhance battery SC circularity. The Three Horizons Framework could drive circularity within electric vehicle battery value chains, enabling LSPs to balance immediate needs with long-term sustainability goals. These strategies offer LSPs competitive advantages, open opportunities for new business and reinforce CEVA Logistics as a sustainable provider, indicating how firms can embed sustainability into their operations, leading systemic change towards a CE.
Co-creating Future Battery Supply Chains: the Roles of Logistics Service Providers in a Circular Economy