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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2015.06.006 Byline: Mahdi Machani, Mustapha Nourelfath, Sophie D'Amours Abstract: Canadian pulp and paper companies have been experiencing hard times during the last decade. The rising Canadian dollar, low-cost competition and the decline in number of conventional markets have led to several restructuring projects and shutdowns among pulp and paper mills. Setting up a transformation strategy is considered vital for those companies to overcome the crisis and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Several transformation pathways could be undertaken, ranging from process modernisation to product portfolio and market diversification. The increasingly volatile business environment makes strategic decisions a tough task. Our objective is then to help decision makers, within the pulp and paper industry, identify profitable transformation strategies that would resist the major driving forces affecting the companies' competitiveness. A scenario-based modelling approach is presented to evaluate a set of transformation strategies under different trend-based future scenarios and to identify the most robust strategic options, allowing a given pulp and paper company to meet the future challenges. A mathematical model is developed to evaluate the profitability of each transformation strategy under different plausible future scenarios. Investing in high-value bioproducts such as Bioethanol is suggested as a viable transformation pathway. Opting for innovative pulp and paper products such moulded fibre packaging would be a promising strategy to consider within a multi-product diversification pathway. Mixed strategies are also evaluated and it is found that investing in bioethanol while modernising the P&P assets would be the most profitable and the less risky strategy, but with the highest investment cost among all strategies. Author Affiliation: Laval University, Mechanical Engineering Department, Interuniversity Research Centre on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation (CIRRELT), FORAC Research Consortium, Quebec, Canada G1K 7P4 Article History: Received 12 February 2014; Accepted 4 June 2015

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2005.08.006 Byline: Rupesh Kumar Pati, Prem Vrat, Pradeep Kumar Keywords: Supply chain; Paper industry; Cost optimization; Indifference curve Abstract: Concerns for the environment has forced many firms define policies that protect the environment within which they operate. This paper presents a linear optimization model for paper industry to compare total system cost of wood as a raw material with recycling of waste paper. Objective of the proposed model is to minimize the cost of paper in the supply chain. Costs included in the objective functions are: costs for collection of raw material, transportation, inventory, manufacturing, segregation and disposal (during recycling). The model also includes the economic implications of using these alternative material sources on environment as well as quality of final product. To gain further insights into system behavior, sensitivity analysis, shortage analysis and indifference curve analysis have been performed. The analysis clearly reveals that the paper recycling is an economical option compared to wood as a raw material. The paper analysis highlights various strategies that could be followed under different market conditions. Author Affiliation: Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247 667 Uttaranchal, India Article History: Received 3 November 2004; Accepted 24 August 2005

Current competitive conditions in the paper markets have forced the producers to look for new ways of reducing their inventory. However, too often the production planning and inventory management are decoupled activities. Coordination between these activities needs to be done in order to successfully decrease the inventories at hand, especially when considering the characteristics of a special business context, the paper making industry. Also, flexibility is of great importance in a production-distribution network. There is an ongoing debate about who should provide the flexibility and in what form. We believe that the flexibility should be in the form of flexible lead times towards the producer and not--as is the tradition--among the distributors. But even if such an agreement with the lead times is made, it is not trivially selfevident how to use the flexibility in the fight way in order to get an optimal improvement of operations. In this paper, two sets of mixed integer linear programming models with a fixed time-horizon will be presented: one combined production and inventory model (for the producer) with fixed lead times and one with flexible lead times. The models are solved with both an MILP-solver and a genetic algorithm. The data is obtained from a Nordic tissue producer in order to test the models and to quantify the effects of flexible lead-times on a producer's production and inventory costs. Keywords: Flexible lead times; Production-distribution optimization; MILP; Genetic algorithm

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2005.07.001 Byline: Hanen Bouchriha, Mustapha Ouhimmou, Sophie D'Amours Keywords: Capacitated lot sizing problem; Dynamic demand; Production cycle; Pulp and paper mill Abstract: In this paper, we address the problem of defining the production campaigns on a paper machine. Each campaign is of a fixed duration (cycle time) and produces batches (lot sizes) of all or a set of the products. This paper presents a real case study discussing a specific lot sizing problem where a predetermined production sequence must be maintained. We propose a new approach where we compute first the cycle time by assuming constant demand, and then lot sizes are determined for each product within each cycle in order to satisfy demand. Finally, studying the context of a Canadian paper maker, we evaluate the impact of planning production under a cycling manner. Author Affiliation: Network Organization Technology Research Centre (CENTOR) - FOR@C Research Consortium, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada G1K-7P4 Article History: Received 23 December 2003; Accepted 5 July 2005

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the rate and the impacts of technical change in the Swedish pulp and paper industry. In contrast to earlier research on this industry we replace the standard time trend with time-specific dummy variables enabling the estimation and decomposing of a general index of technical change. The analysis is made within a Translog cost function model, which is estimated using a panel data set with observations across individual paper and board mills over the time period 1974-1994. Our results indicate that the highest rates of technical change have generally occurred during the latter part of this period. Pure technical change is the primary component that has directed technical change over the entire time period. We also find evidence of non-neutral technical change. Energy use has been stimulated by technical improvements while labour use has been discouraged. Also, technical change has had wastepaper and woodpulp using impacts. However, the magnitudes of these latter impacts are relatively small, implying that the increase in wastepaper use during the last decades has mainly been stimulated by relative price changes. Keywords: Pulp and paper; Technical change; General index; Wastepaper; Translog cost function; Sweden

Keywords Circular economy; Scavengers; Closed-loop supply chain; Pulp & paper industry; Sustainability policy; Waste management formalization Highlights * Formal scavenging establishes and strengthens closed loops in SCs. * Formal scavenging mitigates material flow and SC risks. * Formal scavenging reduces the overall purchasing costs. * Formal scavenging lowers the CO.sub.2 emissions related to the procurement process. * Integrating formal scavengers may improve their capabilities and bargaining power. Abstract Scavengers -- actors who collect and redistribute waste into circular ecosystems to reuse or recycle it -- may improve resource availability and sustainability in the firms' procurement business process. In Closed-Loop Supply Chains, their role is crucial to the business stability. Indeed, governments and the private sectors are encouraged to formalize them, that is, to institutionalize and regulate them and to provide them with the appropriate organization, training, and infrastructures. Yet, to our best knowledge, the scientific literature has not empirically investigated how formal scavengers may advantage those firms that decide to involve them in their procurement process. To do so, a case study was developed in an Italian Pulp & Paper firm that operates in closed-loop settings and that integrated one formal scavenger into its own business to feed its paper mill -- one of the biggest in Europe. The findings show that the introduction of the scavenger entailed four benefits: procurement risk mitigation, lower environmental impact, lower procurement costs, and better quality assurance. By considering conservative estimates related to purchasing the waste paper from the secondary raw materials market on a one-year time window, the scavenger has led to a 7.2 % reduction in the procurement costs and a 21 % improvement in the CO.sub.2 emissions. Finally, implications for Supply Chain Management and policymaking were outlined. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122, Pisa, Italy (b) Kaunas University of Technology, IN4ACT Chair -- School of Economics and Business, K. Donelaicio St. 73, 44249, Kaunas, Lithuania * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 18 September 2020; Revised 21 June 2021; Accepted 20 July 2021 Byline: Pierluigi Zerbino [pierluigi.zerbino@unipi.it] (a,*), Alessandro Stefanini [alessandro.stefanini@ktu.lt] (b), Davide Aloini [davide.aloini@ing.unipi.it] (a), Riccardo Dulmin [riccardo.dulmin@ing.unipi.it] (a), Valeria Mininno [valeria.mininno@ing.unipi.it] (a)

Keywords Platform competition; Same-side network effects; Cross-side network effects; Single-homing; Partial multi-homing; Two-sided pricing Highlights * Both same-side and cross-side network effects impact platforms' two-sided pricing. * Platform strategy shifts between charge and subsidy with respect to network effects. * The impact of network effects on pricing is non-monotonic when buyers multi-home. * Platforms' equilibrium pricing increases with users' strength of taste preferences. * Stronger taste preferences induce multi-homing users to prefer single-homing. Abstract In platform competition, users get on board because of network effects, and they shape a distinct platform service supply chain (PSSC) structure contingent upon the participation decision of both sides, which can be: both sides single-homing (SH--SH), buyers single-homing and sellers partially multi-homing (SH--MH), buyers partially multi-homing and sellers single-homing (MH--SH), and both sides partially multi-homing (MH--MH). One thing in common is that in either PSSC, there exist both same-side and cross-side network effects among users. Although platform competition in practice can be easily captured, the impact of network effects on platform's pricing decisions in different scenarios may vary. Based on a stylized Hotelling model, this paper incorporates buyers' same-side network effects and both buyers' and sellers' cross-side network effects while considering heterogeneous taste preferences of users on each side. We analyze the two-sided pricing, market share, and platform profit in equilibrium and conduct sensitivity analyses under each scenario supplemented by numerical verification. For each case, the findings are as follows. (1) SH--SH: the equilibrium market shares of both platforms are equal yet unaffected by two-sided pricing. (2) SH--MH: the stronger the sellers' taste preferences and the users' cross-side network effects, the more the sellers prefer single-homing. When sellers' cross-side network effects are stronger than that of buyers, the platform posts a charge to sellers; otherwise, it offers a subsidy. (3) MH--SH: the stronger the buyer's taste preferences and the total network effects, the more the buyers prefer single-homing. Moreover, the buyers' same-side network effects have a non-monotonic impact on their price and a monotonically decreasing impact on the sellers' price. (4) MH--MH: whether equilibrium solutions exist is ambiguous. Author Affiliation: (a) College of Business, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, 200433, China (b) Tourism and Event Management School, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Shanghai, 201620, China * Corresponding author.No.777, Guoding Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China. Article History: Received 18 August 2020; Revised 17 November 2020; Accepted 28 December 2020 Byline: Jiaping Xie [jiaping@sufe.edu.cn] (a), Weijun Zhu [zhu.weijun@163.sufe.edu.cn] (a,*), Lihong Wei [lihongweineo@163.com] (a), Ling Liang [liang-ling@foxmail.com] (b)

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2015.07.029 Byline: Robert Lundmark, Anna Olsson Abstract: The utilisation of forest resources in the energy sector has been increasing, partly caused by economic policies introduced to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. This in turn has led to an increase in the procurement competition between the forest industries and the energy sector. A translog cost function approach is used to analyse the factor substitution in the sawmill industry, the pulp and paper industry and the heating industry in Sweden over the period 1970-2008. The estimated parameters are used to calculate the Allen and Morishima elasticities of substitution as well as the price elasticities of input demand. The results indicate that it is easier for the heating industry to substitutes between by-products and logging residues than it is for the pulp and paper industry to substitute between by-products and roundwood. This suggests that the pulp and paper industry could suffer from an increase in the procurement competition. However, overall the substitutions elasticities estimated in our study are relatively low. This indicates that substitution possibilities could be rather limited due to rigidities in input prices. This result suggests that competition of forest resources also might be relatively limited. Author Affiliation: Economics Unit, Lulea University of Technology, SE-971 87 Lulea, Sweden Article History: Received 8 April 2014; Accepted 27 July 2015

This paper illustrates how an effective maintenance policy could influence the productivity and profitability of a manufacturing process. It was possible to show how changes in the productivity affect profit, separately from the effects of changes in the uncontrollable factors, i.e. price recovery. The main results of the case study performed at a Swedish papermill showed that a paper-mill machine could, ideally, generate extra profit of at least 7.8 million Swedish kronor (SEK) (approximately US$ 0.975 million) per year. i.e. 12.5% of its yearly maintenance budget, if it avoids all unplanned stoppages and bad quality production due to maintenance-related causes. Thus, maintenance is not a cost centre, but a profit generating function. Keywords: Maintenance; Cost effective maintenance; Efficiency; Effectiveness; Productivity; Profitability; Paper-mills

In this paper, a modelling method is described for production chains including recycling. It consists of elementary models of standard production operations, connected by market modules. The models are analysed using methods from control theory. These methods allow us to investigate essential properties of the chain concerning its dynamical behaviour, particularly with respect to stability and controllability. These properties are prerequisites for effective chain management, as in the evaluation of recycling policy. A case study on paper recycling was carried out to demonstrate the applicability of this method to practice.

In this paper we address a scheduling problem taken from a label sticker manufacturing company. The production system is a two-stage hybrid flow shop with the characteristics of sequence-dependent setup time at stage 1, dedicated machines at stage 2, and two due dates. The objective is to schedule one day's mix of label stickers through the shop such that the weighted maximal tardiness is minimized. A heuristic is proposed to find the near-optimal schedule for the problem. The performance of the heuristic is evaluated by comparing its solution with both the optimal solution for small-sized problems and the solution obtained by the scheduling method currently used in the shop. As the heuristic is beneficial to the company, it will be implemented in the near future. Keywords: Two-stage hybrid flow shop; Sequence-dependent setup time; Dedicated machine; Weighted maximal tardiness

The cardboard company Kappa Graphic Board produces several kinds of cardboard with various weights and thicknesses. If the thickness is above a certain value (namely 1.7 mm), the cardboard is composed of three layers which are glued together, and is called heavy weight cardboard. The three layers are produced on different machines; the production speed depends on the thickness of the layers. In this paper we restrict our analysis to heavy weight cardboard. The objective is to find a composition of the layers such that the throughput time is minimized. The problem is solved by means of an LP-model in which the objective function is a linearized working hours function; also a number of constraints are linearized. The results of the calculations indicate that it is possible to decrease the total number of working hours in the production process without a large increase of production costs.

The personnel and value efficiencies in the automotive, communications, pulp and paper industries of Canada, Finland, Japan, South Korea, UK and the US have been studied. Results indicate a link between logistical speed and value efficiency while a weaker association was noted between lower production investment efficiency and high personnel efficiency in the automative and communications sectors. However, there was no correlation between production investment and personnel efficiency in the pulp and paper industry. This finding indicates that high value efficiency is intimately related with logistical speed.

Keywords Supply chain governance; Multi-tier; Industry 4.0; Inter-organizational relationship; Case study research; Supply chain network Abstract This paper addresses the impact of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) on supply chain governance (SCG) mechanisms within inter-organizational relationships in a multi-tier context. Special emphasis is paid to the investigation of the dynamics and outcome with regard to the structure and management of the relationships along the multi-tier. A multiple case study method is applied to explain the impact of I4.0 based on a theory-grounded research framework through the lens of complementary SCM theories. Building on qualitative in-depth interviews with 19 experts in managerial positions, three cases from the manufacturing industry involving an I4.0 implementation across the multi-tier were analyzed. This research demonstrates an intensification of synergistic combinations of inter-firm resources, emphasizing SCG as essential. With the implementation of I4.0, competitive advantage along the multi-tier takes higher priority over the competitive advantage in the individual or dyadic perspective. Relational governance mechanisms evolve, allowing competitive advantage as a multi-tier balancing out traditional power mechanisms within the supply chain hierarchy. Findings show that contractual governance mechanisms are limited in their effect, revealing the need for an evolution of 'relational contracting.' Finally, the case research proposes 'agility' as an extended mechanism in SCG research. The study offers in-depth insights into the structure of SCG mechanisms and the implications of adapted SCG on SCM outcomes to redesign multi-tier relationships. Supported by SCM theories and the dimensions of SCG, this paper contributes to the first insights beyond the dyadic perspective, providing an integrated multi-tier perspective while discussing specific mechanisms and identifying relevant propositions for future research. Author Affiliation: (a) Chair of Supply Chain Management, Friedrich-Alexander University Nuremberg, Lange Gasse 20, 90403, Nürnberg, Germany (b) Chair of Supply Chain Management, Friedrich-Alexander University Nuremberg, Germany * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 31 August 2022; Revised 21 March 2023; Accepted 30 March 2023 Byline: Yuko Melanie Pfaff [yuko.pfaff@fau.de] (a,*), Hendrik Birkel [Hendrik.Birkel@fau.de] (b), Evi Hartmann [Evi.Hartmann@fau.de] (b)

Keywords Quality standards; Standard adoption; Best worst method; BWM Abstract This paper studies factors for the adoption of quality standards. The identified factors are applied to a typical example of such a standard; a new standardized measurement and calculation methodology for corporate greenhouse gas inventories. Standardization of these methodologies fosters innovation, as it will provide innovators and regulators in this field with qualitatively superior and more homogeneous emissions data. This will allow for the creation of better substantiated and more focussed innovations and regulations. A framework of 31 factors that determine the adoption of quality standards was first established from extant literature. The framework consists of tangible and intangible standard characteristics, standard supporting alliance, standard creating process, standard support strategy, and stakeholders. Factor weights were determined by applying the Best worst method, and interviews with experts in the field of greenhouse gas accounting were conducted. The existing literature on success in standardization is mainly concerned with compatibility standards; this paper contributes to the existing standardization literature by focusing on quality standard adoption factors. Counterintuitively, the most important factors for adopting quality standards are not related to strategic considerations or the standard's tangible technical characteristics but to pressure from customers and support from governmental bodies. Author Affiliation: (a) Royal Dutch Shell, the Netherlands (b) Faculty of Technology, Policy, and Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 8 October 2021; Revised 19 December 2022; Accepted 23 March 2023 (footnote)[white star] The research presented in this article was conducted by Coen Hoogerbrugge as part of his Master Thesis, see: https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3A8e7f12c9-5491-4b24-8294-154c83717501(https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3A8e7f12c9-5491-4b24-8294-154c83717501). (footnote)[white star][white star] TU Delft regards Theses as unpublished works and therefore have no official publication status. For more information see: https://d2k0ddhflgrk1i.cloudfront.net/Library/Themaportalen/Library%20voor%20wetenschappers/Publiceren%20en%20verspreiden/DelftV2.pdf(https://d2k0ddhflgrk1i.cloudfront.net/Library/Themaportalen/Library%20voor%20wetenschappers/Publiceren%20en%20verspreiden/DelftV2.pdf). Byline: Coen Hoogerbrugge [Coen.Hoogerbrugge@gmail.com] (a), Geerten van de Kaa [g.vandekaa@tudelft.nl] (b,*), Emile Chappin (b)

Keywords CSR; Wages; Assortative matching; Principal--agent Abstract Many empirical papers about CSR deal with the link between CSR and firms' economic performance, or the effect of CSR on employees' wages. In both cases, the empirical effect of CSR can be negative, positive or neutral; and it is difficult to understand why. This paper provides a full model theoretically explaining the interaction between CSR, firms' performance and employees' wages. Our model is a Principal--Agent model where a firm is the Principal and a worker is the Agent, and where the Agent is free of any external motivation. Our model permits in particular to predict the impact of CSR on employees' compensation and to understand why the assortative matching between workers and firms in terms of CSR can be negative. Our model provides insights into why empirical results on the link between CSR and wages or between CSR and firms' economic performance have been mixed. From a managerial standpoint, our paper emphasizes that before deciding to become CSR oriented, a firm must look at the strength of its position on the market of goods and service, the efficiency of its organizational and technological function, the alignment of its employees to its values, and the distribution of CSR characteristics on the labor market. Author Affiliation: (a) Sorbonne Center for Economics (University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne), France (b) Carthage Business School, University of Tunis Carthage, Tunisia (c) University of Montenegro, Montenegro (d) DRM (University Paris-Dauphine, PSL Research University), France * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 8 December 2020; Revised 24 March 2023; Accepted 27 March 2023 (footnote)[white star] We thank very much our editor and the referees for their help. Byline: Marc-Arthur Diaye [marc-arthur.diaye@univ-paris1.fr] (a,*), Hejer Lasram [hejer.lasram@utctunisie.com] (b), Sanja Pekovic [psanja@ucg.ac.me] (c,d)

Keywords Hybrid retail platform; Price competition; Service competition; Platform information; Information provision Highlights * An increase in the precision of quality/service information stimulates competition. * An increase in the precision of match information reduces competition. * Increasing the precision of match information is a win--win strategy. * Platform information can change the relative competitiveness of selling modes. * Providing inconsistent information is a win--win strategy. Abstract Many online platforms now operate in a hybrid mode, in which they act as intermediaries between manufacturers and consumers (agency mode) and resell products (reseller mode). Some hybrid platforms offer both the agency and reseller modes to a manufacturer, so that the same product can be sold through both modes simultaneously. In addition, online shopping brings uncertainty, rendering consumers dependent on information such as product descriptions when making purchase decisions. This paper aims to explore price and service level competition on a hybrid retail platform and the influence of the information displayed on the platform (collectively, 'platform information') on such competition. We establish a model to investigate the equilibrium price and service level in the agency and reseller modes. Next, we analyze how platform information influences equilibrium. We find that the service level in the reseller mode is always higher than that in the agency mode and that the platform owner's ('e-tailer's') profit is higher when the information displayed in the agency mode significantly differs from the information displayed in the reseller mode. The precision of the information about quality and match has opposite effects on competition and profits. For example, an increase in the precision of the match information decreases competition and increases the profits of both the manufacturer and the e-tailer. Surprisingly, we find that both the manufacturer and the e-tailer benefit when inconsistent information is provided in the two modes (i.e., it creates a win--win situation). This paper has implications for managers seeking to understand competition between the agency mode and the reseller mode and to properly manage their platform information. Author Affiliation: School of Management and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu, China * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 8 June 2022; Revised 28 February 2023; Accepted 16 March 2023 Byline: Yiying Pei [dg20150005@smail.nju.edu.cn], Min Li [limin@nju.edu.cn] (*)

Keywords Omnichannel operation; Channel switching; Coupon promotion; Time sensitivity Abstract An increasing number of retailers are allowing consumers to freely switch between online and offline and conducting coupon promotions to stimulate channel transfer. This paper develops a stylized model to investigate omnichannel coupon promotion strategies considering consumers' time sensitivity in redeeming coupons. This paper first explores the benchmark model where consumers show time-insensitive and then takes consumers' time sensitivity into account. For each model, three coupon promotion scenarios are studied, namely, online promotion, offline promotion, and online and offline co-promotion. Results show that whether the omnichannel retailer has the motivation to provide online or offline coupons depends on retail price--a higher retail price leads to a stronger promotion motivation, thereby achieving profit improvement. Results also indicate that the retailer may derive fewer profits in a co-promotion scenario than in a unilateral promotion scenario if there is too much channel switching or coupon promotion for a specific channel is intense. This study further reveals that in a unilateral promotion scenario, the retailer is less enthusiastic to provide coupons in a time-sensitive case than in a time-insensitive case, and the opposite happens in a co-promotion scenario when the time value and time consumed in redeeming coupons are high. Even though, the retailer derives higher profits in the time-sensitive case within specific conditions. The extension model verifies the robustness of the model and further reveals that a high online perceived value leads to a weak online promotion and a strong offline promotion. The retailer is more likely to increase profit in a time-sensitive case than in a time-insensitive case when online perceived value is high. Author Affiliation: (a) School of Politics and Public Administration, Soochow University, No.199 Ren'ai Street, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China (b) School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1037 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 14 May 2022; Revised 5 November 2022; Accepted 9 January 2023 Byline: Zonghuo Li [zh.li@suda.edu.cn] (a,**), Xu Guan [guanxu@hust.edu.cn] (b), Wanxia Mei [meiwanxia@suda.edu.cn] (a,*)

Keywords Circular economy; Closed-loop supply chain; Empirically-driven research; Sustainable production; Supply chain management Abstract In this introductory paper, we discuss the importance of empirically-driven research in the area of sustainable production and distribution systems in order to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy in contemporary societies. To this end, we first identify some gaps in the current state of knowledge that need to be addressed to design efficient and resilient sustainable supply chains. Then, we summarise the papers which have been disseminated through the present Special Issue (entitled 'Empowering the Transition towards a Circular Economy: Empirically-Driven Research in Closed-Loop Supply Chains') of the International Journal of Production Economics; such a collection of articles provides an insightful overview of real-life industrial problems related to the transition towards circular supply chains. Finally, we suggest some important directions for future research in this area with the aim of facilitating the implementation of circular economy practices, strategies and systems. Author Affiliation: University of Sheffield, UK University of Oviedo, Spain University of Catania, Italy University of Seville, Spain * Corresponding author. (footnote)[white star] Editorial of the International Journal of Production Economics' special issue 'Empowering the Transition towards a circular economy: Empirically-driven research in closed-loop supply chains'. Byline: Andrea Genovese [a.genovese@sheffield.ac.uk] (*)

Keywords Supply chain risk management; Supply chain uncertainty management; Circular supply chain; Circular economy; Delphi study; Contingency theory Highlights * The paper analyzes risk/uncertainty management in circular supply chains. * Organizational, supply chain, external risks/uncertainties hinder CE implementation. * Reducing and coping strategies for risk/uncertainty management are required. * This allows for achieving financial performance and business continuity. Abstract Circular supply chains (CSCs) have attracted increasing attention in the supply chain management literature due to their role in increasing the circularity of materials, components, and products. However, surprisingly little attention has been paid to risk and uncertainty management in CSCs, with this aspect experiencing limited theoretical development thus far. Drawing on contingency theory, this paper aims to identify the risks and uncertainties that impede the implementation of CSCs and related management strategies and thus help practitioners mitigate them. A three-round Delphi study was conducted with a panel of industry, governmental, nongovernmental, and academic actors from 18 countries across five continents to analyze their views regarding risk and uncertainty management in CSCs. The results reveal critical risks and uncertainties at the organizational, supply chain, and external levels, including uncertain financial costs; a lack of knowledge and expertise; operational and technological risks; uncertain quality, availability, and delivery of secondary resources; market competition with linear-oriented companies and supply chains; a lack of adequate regulatory frameworks and indicators; and unstable prices for virgin and secondary resources. In effect, appropriate countermeasures are necessary to manage risks and uncertainties, which are comprised of reducing and coping strategies. Reducing strategies consist of inter-firm collaboration and circular product design, and coping strategies consist of information sharing, flexibility, and financial risk management. Moreover, the analysis revealed related contingency factors affecting CSCs, such as regulatory requirements. This paper develops a theoretical framework and a set of propositions regarding contingency factors and risk and uncertainty management in CSCs, helping theorists and practitioners to comprehend the challenges of circular economy implementation. Author Affiliation: (a) Chair of Supply Chain Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Kassel, Germany (b) Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium * Corresponding author. Chair of Supply Chain Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Kassel, Henschelstraße 2, 34109, Kassel, Germany. Article History: Received 6 April 2022; Revised 19 January 2023; Accepted 12 February 2023 Byline: Felipe Alexandre De Lima [felipelima@uni-kassel.de] (a,b,*), Stefan Seuring [seuring@uni-kassel.de] (a)