Analyzing the effects of implementing Reverse Logistics on the performance of Beverage Manufacturing Firms in Zambia: A Case of Zambian Breweries Plc

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse how reverse logistics implementation affects Zambian beverage manufacturing companies' performance. The study had four objectives which were to ascertain how recycling management affects Zambian beverage manufacturing companies' performance, to examine how product remanufacturing affects that performance, to determine how product repackaging affects that performance and to identify the obstacles Zambian beverage manufacturing companies face when trying to implement efficient reverse logistics procedures. The study employed a quantitative research approach and a descriptive research design. A target population of 838 Zambian breweries employees from various departments were targeted and using Yamani sample size formula, a sample size of 271 participants were computed. The survey questionnaires were used to collect primary data from 271 participants which was subsequently analysed through regression analysis with the aid of SPSS v27, and Microsoft excel 2016 for data coding. The study findings showed compelling evidence indicating a significant and positive relationship between the implementation of reverse logistics strategies and the enhanced performance of beverage manufacturing companies in Zambia. However, lack of infrastructure and collection systems, regulatory and compliance hurdles, logistical intricacies, technological barriers, resistance to behavioural change, and financial constraints where the main obstacles identified affecting the implementation of reverse logistics procedures among beverage manufacturing firms in Zambia. In line with this study’s findings, the researcher recommended that Zambian Breweries and other industry players need to adopt reverse logistics strategies due to its positive and significant effect on the firm’s performance and environmental sustainability. There is need for substantial investment in the main obstacles identified in the study that hinders the implementation of reverse logistics among beverage firms in Zambia. Future research may focus on other factors besides recycling, remanufacturing, and repackaging to understand the unexplained variation in beverage firms’ performance. Keywords: Reverse Logistics, Manufacturing, Performance, Challenges, Recycling, remanufacturing, repackaging