Research on Optimization Strategies for Reverse Supply Chains of Port Waste Materials and Containers from the Circular Economy Perspective

Abstract

With the continuous expansion of global shipping volume and accelerating green low-carbon transition of ports, establishing reverse supply chains for waste materials represents a core pathway for ports to implement the 3R principles of circular economy. Domestic ports in China are currently confronted with prevalent challenges, including fragmented recycling systems, extensive sorting and disposal practices, broken resource recycling links, and insufficient coordination mechanisms among multiple stakeholders, which greatly hinder sustainable port development. This paper reviews reverse governance practices at domestic and international ports such as Ningbo Zhoushan Port, Shanghai Yangshan Port, Port of Singapore and Port of Rotterdam, and identifies replicable experiences including centralized collection, intelligent sorting, full life cycle closed-loop operation and multi-party collaborative governance. It is noted that existing practices mostly focus on fragmented improvements targeting isolated individual links. Drawing on circular economy theories, this paper integrates strengths from multiple case studies and proposes an integrated optimization system for reverse supply chains characterized by “unified network-based collection, two-tier classification, three stage closed-loop circulation and four dimensional co-governance”. A multi-dimensional governance platform integrating multi-stakeholder collaboration, digital traceability and institutional constraints is further constructed to cut operational costs of reverse logistics. This research provides theoretical support and practical solutions for the green transformation and upgrading of reverse supply chains for port waste materials and containers.