Management and Logistics of Returnable Transport Items: A Review Analysis on the Pallet Supply Chain

Pallets are among the most used returnable transport items (RTIs), and they critical assets for a supply chain as have significant environmental economic impacts during their whole life cycle. Differently from other packaging products, pallets specifically designed to be repeatably repaired reinjected use. While this environmentally is beneficial it reduces waste, can create complex interactions between stakeholder-involved manufacturers, pallet providers, users recyclers. Further, number of different actors usually high, flow materials them needs coordinated. In addition, business models implemented (such internal management versus outsourcing) well logistics alternatives (closed- open-loop). Thus, aims study first propose systematization design decisions regarding chain; next, review state art tools adopted support each decision process relying on an analysis archival literature published 1978 2021 management, summarize main problems addressed by stakeholders involved in cycle methods, and, finally, highlight potential existing research gaps. This effort helps outline contributions towards more sustainable chains operators companies evaluating solutions increase sustainability management. Results show that perspectives provider widely literature, while those manufacturers repairers should further analyzed.