A Study of Formal Post-products Collected to Reuse Business Structures on Resource Sustainability through System Dynamics

Abstract

Proper handling of post-products is of great importance for both economic and environmental considerations. In China, led by the prosperous of diversified consumption levels and increased total requirements for mobile phones, "collected to reuse" business showed high potential to grow. From economic prospect of view, reused mobile phones are benefited from cost-effectiveness. And, it is urgent to formalize the collection and reuse activities to avoid the environmental pollution and sanitary risks caused by informal treatment of end of life phones. In this research, two basic types of "collected to reuse" mobile phone business are analyzed through system dynamics (SD). The SD is used to reveal and compare the dynamic behavior of the two business types and their relevant influences on reuse. As a result, the authors find that "collected to reuse" business dominated by independent collectors outperforms the one conducted by manufactures in terms of resource sustainability.