The Study of Variables That Influence the Implementation of a Waste Cycle Tracking System: A Literature Review

The new economic paradigm of the circular economy aims to recover, sustain, and increase the value of waste, supporting the concept of sustainability, a key point of the new blockchain models outlined by the 2030 Agenda. Our analysis proposes the study of variables that influence the implementation of a waste cycle tracking system. This type of research is relevant to several fields, both academic and professional, as the conceptual understanding of the narratives of traceability drives practical application through the study of strategies, monitoring tools, and technologies among which the blockchain emerges (Saberi et al, Resour Conserv Recycl 130:80–81, 2018; Steenmans and Taylor 2018). To date, this technology is an essential tool for the traceability of all economic resources, particularly in the context of the circular economy, which lays the foundation for the development of a model in which the entire life cycle of products is aimed at lasting as long as possible. The use of this technology in the waste sector represents an application of supply chain management on which much attention has been given in recent years (e.g., Kouhizadeh, Sarkis, Sustainability 10:3652; 2018; Saberi et al, Int J Prod Res 57:2117–2135, 2019). The methodological approach used is qualitative, as we proceed with a literature review that investigates the variables, in particular blockchain technology, which may influence the application of a traceability model whose purpose is to ensure the certainty and transparency of the individual processes involved. The review also outlines application gaps and future areas of research. The following article could enhance the use of this technology and offer insights into the study of other technological variables that are always applied within a yet unknown waste traceability model.