REVERSE LOGISTICS OF EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE: IDENTIFICATION OF BARRIERS FROM A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Reverse logistics is gaining prominence due to the accountability of some organizations throughout the product's life cycle, whether for legislative reasons or for customer satisfaction. In this sense, the present work aims to point out some barriers found for the realization of the reverse logistics of expanded polystyrene in Ponta Grossa/PR. The study mapped the reverse chain of expanded polystyrene in order to identify the barriers that hinder the efficiency of the process. To better understand the barriers, a bibliographic study was carried out to compare theory and practice. The data was collected through questionnaires made to consumers, the company that reprocesses expanded polystyrene, and through visits and interviews with those responsible for the association of waste pickers in Ponta Grossa. As a result, some barriers were mentioned, such as public awareness, conditions of the material returned, economic attractiveness of EPS, and seasonality of EPS shipments.