Prioritizing Circular Supply Chain Management Barriers Using Fuzzy AHP: Case of the Indian Plastic Industry

Abstract

This article provides a perspective to implement circular supply chain management (CSCM) in the plastic industry in emerging economies, especially in India. CSCM integrates the philosophy of circular economy (CE) into supply chain management and offers a new view towards sustainability. However, the implementation of CSCM is an arduous task due to the presence of several barriers. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and prioritize barriers to implementing CSCM practices in Indian plastic industries. It employs a two-phase methodology to identify and prioritize the barriers to implementing CSCM. A total of 24 barriers were identified under five major categories through an extensive literature review and experts’ opinions. A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methodology is employed to rank the barriers. The fuzzy framework is considered to handle the uncertainty and vagueness. An empirical case of the Indian plastic industry is taken to illustrate the proposed model. A sensitivity analysis was performed to check the robustness of the model. The results indicate that the lack of tax relaxation policies and poor enforcement of rules and regulations to protect the environment are the most prominent barriers. The finding of this study can act as a stepping stone for managers and policymakers to effective implementation of CSCM.