How can consumer compliance be improved in order to increase the return rate of returnable glass bottles ?

Abstract

Recently, the use of Reusable Transport Items (RTIs) has become popular among businesses. Indeed, this type of packaging offers many benefits, including cost savings and sometimes improved environmental performance. However, their use implies a more complex supply chain and the benefits of their implementation only result if RTIs are managed efficiently. The return rate is one important parameter for an efficient management of RTIs. Indeed, its unpredictability raises a variety of challenges, both long and short term, within the supply chain. This uncertainty is notably linked to consumer behavior and cooperation over which companies rarely have a clear vision. The aim of this master research thesis is to investigate the possible reasons for the return and non-return of returnable glass bottles, a particular type of RTI, in order to highlight ways to improve their return rate. A quantitative study is carried out using an online questionnaire to analyze the return rate of consumers, their perception of returnable glass bottles and finally the reasons why they return or do not return their returnable glass bottles. This study identifies two main factors that impact the return rate of consumers: remoteness and the complexity of the system.