Reverse Logistics and Non-Financial Performance: Experience from Selected Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria.

Abstract

Driven by escalating global environmental consciousness and tightening regulatory frameworks, this study investigates the impact of reverse logistics on the operational performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Additionally, it identifies the primary barriers hindering the comprehensive implementation of reverse logistics practices within the sector. Adopting a quantitative survey research design, primary data were elicited via structured questionnaires from 218 supply chain and logistics professionals across the healthcare, brewery, and flour mill industries. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling via SPSS and SmartPLS. The findings reveal that while several factors impede reverse logistics adoption, the most critical barriers include a lack of enforceable laws and policies, inadequate supportive economic policies, and prohibitive financial obligations. Inferential analysis demonstrates that reverse logistics explains 65.2% of the variance in firm performance, exerting a positive and statistically significant influence. Furthermore, the effect size indicates that RL maintains a substantial and critical role in driving organizational outcomes. These results underscore the strategic importance of reverse logistics as a core component of green supply chain management. The study concludes that for Nigerian manufacturing firms to achieve sustainable competitive advantage, stakeholders must institutionalize reverse logistics through dedicated resource allocation and policy alignment.