Sustainability through remanufacturing of e-waste: Examination of critical factors in the Indian context

Abstract

Remanufacturing is one of the strategies which may lead to sustainability in the production and consumption of electronics products by extending the life cycle of e-waste. Remanufacturing activities in India are in the rudimentary state, whereas countries like USA, Germany, and the UK are spearheading these activities. Therefore, this research aims to explore the factors and develops the interrelationship between these factors, which impact the remanufacturing of e-waste in India. A total of fifteen factors are determined with the help of extensive investigation of the literature, expert opinion, and survey among the consumers. The authors have consulted twelve experts from the academia and electronics industry and surveyed 484 students for finalizing these factors. Further, Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) has structured the fifteen factors into eight level hierarchy along with the interrelationship among them. The results reveal that green awareness, government incentives, return intention, and management vision is the major influential factors in the hierarchy. Furthermore, MICMAC (Matriced’ Impacts Croise’s Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement) technique has divided fifteen factors into four groups based on their driving and dependence power. The results show the absence of autonomous factors while purchase intention and effective marketing mix strategy emerge as the significant dependent factors. The results of this investigation will be valuable for leaders proposing to progress remanufacturing rehearses in India and other developing countries for the sustainable management of e-waste. In addition, this research provides practical implications to the decision makers of the firms for effective remanufacturing of e-waste.