The purpose of this study is to analyze the necessity of introducing a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) in the Korean tire industry and the factors that influence it, and to derive strategic implications at the industrial level. The global tire industr...
The purpose of this study is to analyze the necessity of introducing a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) in the Korean tire industry and the factors that influence it, and to derive strategic implications at the industrial level. The global tire industry is facing structural changes such as regional concentration of major raw materials such as natural rubber, strengthening environmental and trade regulations, and continuous increase in the generation of waste tires. These changes suggest that the existing linear supply chain structure may have certain limitations in simultaneously securing the stability and sustainability of raw material supply and demand. Against this background, this study examined whether CLSC, which includes the recovery, recycling, and re-input of waste tires, can function as an alternative supply chain structure in the domestic tire industry through theoretical consideration, case analysis, and empirical analysis. In the theoretical consideration, the CLSC concept was organized separately from the existing Green Supply Chain Management(GSCM) discussion, and the strategic implications of CLSC were examined by linking the sustainable management perspective with the resilient supply chain theory. In addition, by comparing and analyzing domestic and foreign tire industry cases, the difference in the level of CLSC introduction and operation between domestic and foreign major leading companies was reviewed. The analysis showed that domestic tire manufacturers have accumulated a certain level of performance in terms of improving resource efficiency and reducing waste within the production process, but the structure of integrated operation of the reverse supply chain leading to recovery, selection, and remanufacturing of waste tires remains in a limited stage. On the other hand, major companies in the United States, Europe, and Japan have gradually built a circular structure that encompasses the entire supply chain by combining retreads, chemical recycling technologies, and digital-based tracking systems. In the empirical analysis, a survey was conducted on 204 domestic tire manufacturers and logistics partners, and the factors affecting the intention to introduce CLSC were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). As a result of the analysis, it was found that the perception of sustainable management did not show a statistically significant relationship with the intention to introduce CLSC, while the organizational environmental acceptance factors consisting of CEO support, technical readiness, and government policy support had a significant effect on the intention to introduce CLSC. These results suggest that the introduction of CLSC is likely to lead to more realistic decision-making when the technical, organizational, and institutional foundations are secured above a certain level rather than corporate perception. Overall, this study raises the need to understand CLSC as an industrial strategic supply chain operation direction considering the entire life cycle of the product rather than limiting it to simple recycling activities or environmental regulations. In addition, it is suggested that the domestic tire industry needs to consider the step-by-step establishment of reverse supply chain infrastructure, the selection of key technology areas and the formation of a cooperative system between related actors, and a policy environment that supports demonstration and diffusion at the national level. The analysis results of this study are expected to be used as reference materials for discussing the circular economy transition of the domestic tire industry and establishing related policies and strategies in the future. keywords : Closed-Loop Supply Chain, CLSC, tire industry