A Conceptual Model for Sustainable Reusable Packaging in Food Supply Chains

Sustainable reusable packaging systems in food supply chains are crucial for reducing waste and advancing a circular economy, but their implementation faces persistent managerial and organizational challenges. This paper proposes a conceptual model to guide the deployment of reusable packaging, such as plastic crates, by integrating insights from classical management principles, such as process standardization and control, and contemporary organizational theories, including network governance, institutional theory, and circular economy frameworks. The model is structured around three interrelated layers—the Operational Core, the Collaborative Network, and the Environmental Context—that align operational efficiency, inter-firm coordination, and adaptive strategies with sustainability objectives. By clearly delineating these components and their interactions, the framework demonstrates how firms can improve efficiency, resilience, and environmental performance in reusable packaging loops. The model provides a structured approach to overcoming adoption barriers such as high transition costs, complex processes, and behavioral resistance, using time-tested management practices adapted to modern needs. This integrative framework addresses a gap in the literature by combining theoretical rigor with practical guidance, enabling the transformation of linear packaging logistics into more circular and resilient food supply chain systems.