Reverse Logistics in the Amazon: A Territorialized Conceptual Model and Guidelines for Regional Public Policies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21664/2238-8869.2026v15i1.8531Keywords:
Amazon, Circular economy, Reverse logistics, Public policies, Environmental governanceAbstract
The implementation of reverse logistics (RL) in Amazonian regions unfolds under institutional, operational, and social conditions that differ significantly from other contexts, influencing the feasibility of circular economy strategies. These territories are characterized by long distances, dispersed small municipalities, reliance on river transport routes, low institutional density, and marked socioeconomic vulnerability, which increase logistical costs and hinder coordination among actors. Despite conceptual advances in the field, analytical models capable of integrating these territorial specificities into RL arrangements remain limited. This article seeks to understand how territorial and institutional factors in the Southwestern Amazon shape the implementation of RL and, based on this analysis, to propose a territorialized conceptual model to guide public policies in peripheral contexts. The research adopts a qualitative, exploratory, and analytic approach, combining a systematic literature review, which resulted in the selection of 33 articles, with a documentary analysis of legal frameworks and management reports from the state of Acre covering the period from 2020 to 2024. The triangulation of theoretical, normative, and institutional evidence enabled the identification of recurrent analytical categories, subsequently organized into six dimensions and three integrated levels — structural, operational, and social, which underpin the proposed conceptual model. The results reveal that RL in the region is shaped by fragile institutional coordination, infrastructure limitations, low flow traceability, dependence on external funding, and restricted productive inclusion of waste pickers. Building on this diagnosis, the study presents a set of key performance indicators and structured guidelines to support the regional implementation of RL, encompassing governance, financing, infrastructure, organic waste valorization, and social participation. The territorialized conceptual model contributes by offering an integrated interpretation of RL in Amazonian states and by providing analytical and operational instruments to inform state plans, waste management policies (PEGIRs), and public policies aimed at circular economy initiatives and sustainable territorial reorganization.
References
Acre. (2012). Plano Estadual de Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos. Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente, Rio Branco: SEMA.
Acre. (2020). Relatório de Gestão 2020. Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente, Rio Branco: SEMA.
Acre. (2021). Relatório de Gestão 2021. Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente, Rio Branco: SEMA.
Acre. (2022). Relatório de Gestão 2022. Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente, Rio Branco: SEMA.
Acre. (2023). Relatório de Gestão 2023. Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente, Rio Branco: SEMA.
Acre. (2024). Relatório de Gestão 2024. Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente, Rio Branco: SEMA.
Appiah, L. O., & Owusu-Bio, M. K. (2024). Reverse logistics and financial performance in a developing country context: the moderating role of analytics capability. Journal of Responsible Production and Consumption, 1(1), 81–106. https://doi.org/10.1108/jrpc-11-2023-0020
Araújo, C. M., Soliani, R. D., Oliveira, D. A. de, Lima Júnior, F. B. de, Alves, S. de F. F., Nora, L. A. R. da S., Silva, M. E. da, & Siqueira, R. M. (2024). Sustainable transportation in the Brazilian agroindustrial supply chain: A literature review. Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental, 18(5), e05392. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n5-056
Brandao, R., Edwards, D. J., Melo, A. C. S., & Macedo, A. N. (2023). Reverse supply chain practices for construction and demolition waste in the Brazilian Amazon: a multi-stakeholder view. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01680-1
Brasil. (2010). Lei nº 12.305, de 2 de agosto de 2010. Institui a Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos; altera a Lei no 9.605, de 12 de fevereiro de 1998; e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União, Brasília, DF.
Brasil. (2022). Índice de reciclagem de latas de alumínio chega a 99% e Brasil se destaca como recordista mundial. Ministério do Meio Ambiente, Brasília, DF.
Carrera-Rivera, A., Ochoa, W., Larrinaga, F., & Lasa, G. (2022). How-to conduct a systematic literature review: A quick guide for computer science research. MethodsX, 9(101895), 101895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2022.101895
De Andrade, F. N., & de Araujo, F. V. (2025). An analysis of the legal and management aspects of plastic waste in Brazil. Sustainable Futures, 10(101120), 101120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101120
De Carvalho, F. dos R., Morais, H. B., Melo, A. C. S., Nunes, D. R. de L., Nagata, V. de M. N., & Braga Junior, A. E. (2021). Melhorias ao processo de logística reversa à luz da PNRS: estudo de caso em uma cooperativa de catadores. Brazilian Journal of Development, 7(11), 101746–101764. https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv7n11-003
De Giovanni, P. (2022). Leveraging the circular economy with a closed-loop supply chain and a reverse omnichannel using blockchain technology and incentives. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 42(7), 959–994. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijopm-07-2021-0445
De Souza, E. C. V. de A., de Lima Junior, F. B., Soliani, R. D., Oliveira, P. R. de S., de Oliveira, D. A., Siqueira, R. M., Nora, L. A. R. S., & Macêdo, J. (2023). Reverse Logistics of Pesticide Packaging: A Case Study in Rio Branco/Ac, Brazil. Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental - RGSA, 17(3), e03296. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v17n3-010
Dennison, M. S., Kumar, M. B., & Jebabalan, S. K. (2024). Realization of circular economy principles in manufacturing: obstacles, advancements, and routes to achieve a sustainable industry transformation. Discover Sustainability, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00689-2
Espey, J., Parnell, S., & Revi, A. (2023). The transformative potential of a Global Urban Agenda and its lessons in a time of crisis. Npj Urban Sustainability, 3(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-023-00087-z
Fernando, Y., Shaharudin, M. S., & Abideen, A. Z. (2023). Circular economy-based reverse logistics: dynamic interplay between sustainable resource commitment and financial performance. European Journal of Management and Business Economics, 32(1), 91–112. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejmbe-08-2020-0254
Gonzaga, N. da C., Silva, R. N. da, & Andrade, L. P. de. (2021). Gerenciamento de Resíduos do Óleo Lubrificante: Uma Revisão Sistemática da Literatura. Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental, 15, e02812. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v15.2812
Izidoro, L. G., & Trevizan, A. F. (2025). Waste pickers in extended producer responsibility policies: A comparative analysis of Brazil and the European Union. Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, 34(2), 352–364. https://doi.org/10.1111/reel.70014
Jaakkola, E. (2020). Designing conceptual articles: four approaches. AMS Review, 10(1–2), 18–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-020-00161-0
Kirchherr, J., Yang, N.-H. N., Schulze-Spüntrup, F., Heerink, M. J., & Hartley, K. (2023). Conceptualizing the circular economy (revisited): An analysis of 221 definitions. Resources, Conservation, and Recycling, 194(107001), 107001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.107001
Le, S. T. (2023). Investigating the drivers of the reverse logistics implementation in reducing waste in Vietnam. Environmental Health Insights, 17, 11786302231211058. https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302231211058
Leal, T. L. M. de C., Araújo, J. C. G. de, & Rodrigues, L. B. (2025). Avaliação dos acordos setoriais de logística reversa como mecanismos de promoção da economia circular. Brazilian Journal of Production Engineering, 11(1), 192–212. https://doi.org/10.47456/bjpe.v11i1.46051
Lösch, S., Rambo, C. A., & Ferreira, J. L. (2023). A pesquisa exploratória na abordagem qualitativa em educação. Revista Ibero-Americana de Estudos em Educação, e023141. https://doi.org/10.21723/riaee.v18i00.17958
Mallick, P. K., Salling, K. B., Pigosso, D. C. A., & McAloone, T. C. (2023). Closing the loop: Establishing reverse logistics for a circular economy, a systematic review. Journal of Environmental Management, 328(117017), 117017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117017
Mishra, A., Dutta, P., Jayasankar, S., Jain, P., & Mathiyazhagan, K. (2023). A review of reverse logistics and closed-loop supply chains in the perspective of circular economy. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 30(3), 975–1020. https://doi.org/10.1108/bij-11-2021-0669
MPAC. (2020). Anuário da Gestão de Resíduos no Estado do Acre - 2019. Ministério Público do Estado do Acre, Rio Branco, AC.
Oliveira, T. J. A. de, Nogueira, L. A., & Rodrigues, W. (2023). Nos limites da sustentabilidade: a responsabilidade estendida do produtor na gestão de embalagens de agroquímicos. Ambiente & Sociedade, 26. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4422asoc0076r1vu2023l3ao
Patulski, A. C. de P., Carneiro, C., & Fernandes, V. (2024). Modalities of packaging reverse logistics in Brazil, Federal Decree No. 11,413, February 13, 2023. Engenharia Sanitaria e Ambiental, 29(e20240034). https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-415220240034
Picard, M. S., & Manfredi, L. C. (2023). Operationalizing a corporate sustainability transformation in a fast-moving-consumer goods company. Estudios Gerenciales, 464–475. https://doi.org/10.18046/j.estger.2023.169.5989
Rahman, M. A., Hossain, M. Z., & Rahaman, K. R. (2023). Climate urbanism as a new urban development paradigm: Evaluating a city’s progression towards climate urbanism in the Global South. Climate, 11(8), 159. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11080159
Rodríguez, E. C. A., Hernández, C. T., Aguirre-Rodríguez, E. Y., da Silva, A. F., & Marins, F. A. S. (2024). Reverse Logistics and the Circular Economy: A study before and after the implementation of the National Solid Waste Policy in Brazil. Recycling, 9(4), 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling9040064
Sampaio, R. C., & Lycarião, D. (2021). Análise de conteúdo categorial: manual de aplicação. Escola Nacional de Administração Pública - Enap, Brasília.
Santiago, C. D., Marotti, A. C. B., Pugliesi, E., & Gonçalves, J. C. (2023). Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos: perspectivas após um decênio de sua promulgação. Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, 62. https://doi.org/10.5380/dma.v62i0.81833
Sedovs, E., & Volkova, T. (2024). Sustainability: Is it a strategic management research fashion? Sustainability, 16(17), 7434. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177434
SINIR. (2021). Relatório Estadual de Gestão de Resíduos Sólidos. Sistema Nacional de Informações sobre a Gestão dos Resíduos Sólidos. Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudança do Clima - MMA, Brasília, DF.
Soliani, R. D. (2021). Brazilian road freight transportation sector: The challenge of sustainability. Journal of Traffic and Logistics Engineering, 32–41. https://doi.org/10.18178/jtle.9.2.32-41
Sonar, H., Dey Sarkar, B., Joshi, P., Ghag, N., Choubey, V., & Jagtap, S. (2024). Navigating barriers to reverse logistics adoption in circular economy: An integrated approach for sustainable development. Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain, 100165, 100165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clscn.2024.100165
Souza, A. R. D., & Melo, C. S. (2020). Logística reversa: um estudo sobre o processo de coleta de baterias em um distribuidor na cidade de Porto Velho-RO. Diálogos: Economia e Sociedade, v. 4., n. 2, p. 29–39.
Souza, R. de O., & Nascimento e Silva, D. (2024). A study on the difficulties of practicing reverse logistics by an association of waste pickers in the city of Manaus. Contribuciones A Las Ciencias Sociales, 17(12), e12782. https://doi.org/10.55905/revconv.17n.12-211
Souza, S. F. A. (2025). A implementação da logística reversa na região interiorana do Amazonas. Revista ft, v. 29, 144. https://doi.org/10.69849/revistaft/fa10202503151344
Souza, V. O. de, Santos, S. M., & Cabral Neto, J. P. (2024). Challenges in implementing the Sectoral Agreement for Reverse Logistics of electro-Electronic Products in Brazil. Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental, 18(11), e09798. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n11-130
Tadaiesky, D. C., Neto, J. L. das N., Melo, A. C. S., Anholon, R., de Castro Coutinho, E., & Martins, V. W. B. (2022). Challenges to promoting resilience in supply chains observed during the COVID-19 pandemic: An exploratory study of the Amazon region using the TOPSIS technique. Logistics, 6(4), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics6040078
Teixeira, V. E. G., Cruz, W. S. C., Fernandes, R. M., Nunes, D. R. de L., Martins, V. W. B., & Nagata, V. de M. N. (2024). Barriers to the implementation of reverse logistics for organic solid waste in the Amazon: A study in a city in the metropolitan region of Belém. Engenharia Sanitaria e Ambiental, 29. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-415220240024
United Nations - UN. (2015a). Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe. Brussels, Belgium.
United Nations - UN. (2015b). Paris Agreement. United Nations Treaty Collection. New York, USA.
Zisopoulos, F. K., Steuer, B., Abussafy, R., Toboso-Chavero, S., Liu, Z., Tong, X., & Schraven, D. (2023). Informal recyclers as stakeholders in a circular economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 415(137894), 137894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137894
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Maria José Feitoza de Souza, Franciele Bender Maritan, Jhennifer Lauanne Tavares da Cruz Silva, Rodrigo Duarte Soliani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This journal offers immediate free access to its content, following the principle that providing free scientific knowledge to the public, we provides greater global democratization of knowledge.
As of the publication in the journal the authors have copyright and publication rights of their articles without restrictions.
The Revista Fronteiras: Journal of Social, Technological and Environmental Science follows the legal precepts of the Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International. 
