A grey-based framework for circular supply chain management: a forward step towards sustainability

Circular supply chain management (CSCM) has the potential to compensate for the drawbacks of the linear supply chain model. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify and prioritise the significant enablers related to the effective management of the circular supply chain (CSC).

The significant enablers of CSCM are identified through a two-step process of literature review and grey-Delphi approach. Further, an integrated grey-based Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is applied to prioritise these enablers.

This study proposes a grey-based framework to identify and evaluate the enablers associated with CSCM. A total of 12 significant CSCM enablers are finalised per the proposed framework. The findings suggest that the top three enablers are "long-term planning", "development of CE culture" and "alignment of CE goals with strategic objectives". These enablers require the attention of the top management and supply chain partner on priority.

This study identifies 12 enablers through the literature review, so there is a possibility to overlook some significant enablers. However, the expert's input is used to finalise and analyse the enablers, which can be biased towards their working level.

This study proposes a grey-based framework to identify and analyse the CSC enablers rarely investigated in the contemporary literature. The paper is strong in methodological contributions and gives practitioners and researchers a better framework for CSCM.