An integrated supply chain management system for end-of-life tires in China and its promotion barriers: A stakeholder perspective

Abstract

End-of-life (EoL) tires have brought severe environmental issues in China while they have a high recovery value. Thus, the Chinese government has worked on establishing a comprehensive system to promote the utilization of EoL tires. However, barriers exist for the implementation of the system, and it is also unclear what all associated barriers are and which works are urgent and crucial. This paper first contributes to introducing an integrated supply chain management (ISCM) system considering the whole life cycle of EoL tires from a different stakeholders’ perspective. Thirteen barriers are identified along three supply chain stages (collection of EoL tires, treatment, and sales & use of “4R” (retreaded/recycled/recovery/reused) products), as well as life-cycle management coordination. Based on evaluations by five experts from two industry associations, two typical tire manufacturers, and one recycling enterprise, we apply the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method to examine the causal-effect relationships among all barriers. Different from previous findings of critical difficulties (uncertainty of EoL tire supply and lack of treatment technologies), our results from DEMATEL analysis show that it is urgent to develop unified standards for “4R” products in end markets and promote tax incentives policies. In the long term, a coordinating organization is needed to manage all related stakeholders. Developing statistical mechanisms for EoL tires (registration, statistics, and traceability) is both urgent and elementary. Our findings provide managerial implications for the Chinese government to effectively promote the utilization of EoL tires, which can also be diffused to other countries, especially emerging countries.