Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify requirements and tradeoffs on logistics services in order to enhance circularity of materials and resources.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on multiple case study design with abductive reasoning, the study investigates thirteen different product categories. The data was analyzed based on theoretical, a priori codes from the literature review. Inductive, emerging codes, were added to the coding scheme during the analysis.

Findings

Requirements of logistics services to support slowing of resource flows are categorized with respect to provider driven or co-created services, the location of the service; single or multiple actors; transportation of parts, products and people. Moreover, the study elaborates upon tradeoffs in aftermarket supply chains and logistics requirements to support slowing of resources flows. Most significant are the tradeoffs between knowledge and people; and information and parts and product. Practitioners should minimize transportation of product, people and parts by increasing local knowledge and improve information sharing.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on manufacturing companies providing aftermarket services; repair & maintenance, reuse & redistribution, and/or refurbishing & remanufacturing. The study takes a dyadic perspective including the provider and the customer. To enhance circularity, logistics services must extend the traditional material-information flow with flow of people and knowledge, respectively.

Practical and Social implications

The categorization provides practitioners and researchers with an overview of requirements and tradeoffs on logistics services to enhance circularity at a particular level in the waste hierarchy. The implications will both provide opportunity to address environmental impact of transportation as well as improve utilization of scarce materials.

Original/value

This review contributes to the understanding of the relationship between logistics services and enhancement of circularity by highlighting requirements on logistics services in the aftermarket supply chain as well as recommendations for the future.