What are waste-to-resource supply chains: exploring their unique dynamics and implications for circular economy

Purpose Circularity requires that materials never become waste and remain in productive activities. This necessitates the creation of new supply chains (SCs), where discarded waste items are transformed into secondary resources. The author refers to these as waste-to-resource SCs. This study aims to explore how material, finance and information flow in these waste-to-resource SCs. Design/methodology/approach Presenting evidence from a unique single case, an organisation established to receive waste consumer items for repair or refurbishment and resale to new consumers. Findings The study findings indicate the upstream supply of material, finance and information flow to be unique to waste-to-resource SCs. Here, the author identifies supply push with a lack of control over incoming waste material and seasonal fluctuations. This was complemented by a disrupted information flow and consequently a need to recreate information by the focal organisation through detailed inspection of the waste items. The author compares these findings to flows in forward and reverse SCs and identify the uniqueness of waste-to-resource SCs. Originality/value This research contributes to the discussion on implementing circularity by identifying the unique characteristics of waste-to-resource SCs, which form a missing link for transforming waste into valuable resources and keep it from leaving the cycles of productive activities. The author also details types of waste-to-resource SCs based on the type of involved actors and the value of material streams.