335Reverse Supply Chains
Individual Businesses
Businesses are also beginning to recognize the potential problem of resource scarcity. Is there
a danger of running out of critical resources, such as oil or precious metals? Will population
growth increase to a point that exceeds the capacity of the earth’s food production? Friedman
points out this is a real possibility if today’s trends are not changed (Friedman 2008).
In an increasing number of cases, new businesses are emerging to manage RSC activities.
Rather than original product manufacturers setting up to handle the reverse activities,
new companies are emerging to perform these activities. Some examples include
• Recycling plants to process paper and plastics
• Remanufacturing plants to ...