The circular retail transformation and its implications for circular logistics nodes: an integrative review

Abstract

Purpose In the transformation to the circular economy, circular logistics nodes are becoming increasingly important to, for example, match supply and demand, coordinate flows, increase logistics efficiency and customer utility, and reduce environmental impact. The purpose of this study is to expand our theoretical understanding of the circular retail transformation and its implications for circular logistics nodes. Design/methodology/approach An integrative literature review was conducted to synthesize diverse sources of knowledge on the circular transformation. The review focused on circular retail stores as representative nodes and then generalized these insights to a broader range of circular logistics nodes. Given the topic's interdisciplinary nature, knowledge about retail stores in a circular retail context exists, but is fragmented across multiple domains (e.g. sustainability, marketing, logistics and supply chain). To the authors’ knowledge, no previous study has integrated extant knowledge to advance our theoretical understanding of retail stores as circular logistics nodes. Findings The study identified seven themes that shape the circular transformation and retail-store configuration: (1) incentives and regulatory enablers, (2) introducing the circular consumer, (3) the issue of supply, (4) circular governance and organization, (5) integrating and scaling circular services and operations, (6) leveraging resources and (7) the need for new performance indicators. Research limitations/implications Anchored in a network-node-resource perspective, the study findings are extended to discuss implications for a broader range of circular logistics nodes. The themes and implications are then connected in a research agenda for circular logistics nodes, which outlines research avenues and questions as well as potential theoretical and methodological approaches. Originality/value The article brings a new perspective by conceptualizing retail stores as circular logistics nodes and discussing broader configuration consideration for logistics nodes in the circular retail network.