The Reverse Logistics Imperative
Reverse logistics remains a largely untapped strategic domain with substantial potential to reshape supply chain performance and value creation. It sits at the intersection of decarbonisation, circularity, digitalisation, and new asset-light services – but remains hamstrung by siloed experimentation and misaligned incentives. The Asia Reverse Logistics Innovation Alliance (ARLIA) seeks to bridge this divide, aligning markets, standards, and systems to close the loop across borders. By connecting innovators, academia, policymakers, and industry leaders, the alliance accelerates the shift from linear loss to regenerative growth. It is a platform where leaders can pool risk, mobilise pilots, and co-develop new solutions building the foundation for a circular, net‑zero Asia Pacific.
Who We Are
The Asia Reverse Logistics Innovation Alliance (ARLIA) is a collaborative platform for companies that move, collect, process, and reuse materials across Asia.
Convened with The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society (“LSCMS”) as host organization, ARLIA brings together the following stakeholders to explore innovative, collaborative business models that unlock robust reverse logistics value streams:
- Leading manufacturers, retailers and brands
- Logistics and 3PL / 4PL providers
- Packaging, waste and recycling players
- Technology / data solution providers
- Academics, NGOs and policymakers
Our members are practitioners who are already implementing or consider to implement with new ways to recover materials and reuse waste – and who see reverse logistics as a strategic enabler of circular/regenerative or sovereign business models.
What ARLIA Does
ARLIA is a working alliance that:
- Convene cross-industry working groups on specific reverse logistics opportunities (e.g. packaging/OCC, plastics, e-waste, surplus equipment
- Develop and structure public policy engagement with regulators
- Co-design and stress-test new business models for collection, consolidation, backhauls and value recovery
- Run pilot projects across APAC to prove operational and commercial viability
- Develop case studies, playbooks and decision tools that members can bring back to their businesses and organizations
- Create a platform to showcase leading reverse logistics and circular economy innovations
- Provide a neutral forum to engage standard setters, cities and ecosystem partners on enabling policies and incentives
Our Initial Focus Areas
The agenda is shaped by the members which co-create the content and outcomes of the alliance work. Potential focus areas are packaging and OCC recovery, plastics and consumer returns, surplus and end-of-life assets, and data, standards, and certifications.
How ARLIA Works
ARLIA is structured as a member-driven working alliance with a clear cadence and outputs:
Council & Working Groups
- A small Council (industry and ecosystem representatives) sets direction
- Thematic working groups (by material stream or region) drive problem-solving and pilots
Meeting Rhythm
- Bi-monthly virtual sessions for each working group to share data, challenges and concepts.
- 1–2 in-person roundtables per year at regional events (e.g. LogiSYM conferences).
- Ad-hoc design sprints when pilots are being scoped or launched.
Deliverables
- Insight notes / white papers and case studies.
- Concept notes and business model canvases for pilots.
- Pragmatic toolkits (checklists, RFP templates, KPI frameworks) for member use.
Why Join ARLIA
Members join ARLIA to accelerate learning and de-risk innovation, and implementation of new networks, models, tools, etc. in reverse logistics:
- Direct Access to Peers and Customers
Exchange with shippers, logistics providers, recyclers, and solution providers facing similar operational realities across Asia - Knowledge Access and Sharing
Access curated, practitioner-led insights on reverse logistics and circular value chains across Asia, going beyond high-level reports to operationally relevant intelligence
- Faster Business Model Innovation
Identify suitable innovators, and co-develop new service offerings, commercial models and partnership structures – with real-world feedback from other operators - Pilot Opportunities Across Markets
Identify and participate in cross-border pilots, e.g. Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Viet Nam that would be hard to set up alone - Credible Circularity and ESG Outcomes
Turn high-level circularity and net-zero commitments into traceable projects that deliver measurable impact - Visibility and Thought Leadership
Be profiled in alliance publications, roundtables and external events as a first-mover in reverse logistics and circular value chains
Who Should Join
ARLIA is open to organisations that see reverse logistics as part of their business strategy, including:
- Brand Owners and Manufacturers
CPG, food & beverage, electronics, apparel, industrial manufacturers and others with complex outbound and return flows - Logistics & Supply Chain Providers
3PL / 4PLs, express / CEP players, contract logistics providers, warehouse and hub operators - Waste, Recycling and Resource Companies
MRFs, recyclers, waste-to-value operators and environmental service providers - Technology and Solution Providers
Platforms for routing, visibility, asset tracking, marketplaces, emissions / circularity analytics - Ecosystem Partners
Industry associations, NGOs, academics and policymakers working on circular economy, climate and waste management
Membership and Participation
- Membership type: Corporate/institutional membership
- Geographic scope: Asia-Pacific, with an initial emphasis on Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia
- Members will co-shape the agenda, selecting focus themes and being featured in early publications and events
Get Involved
If your organisation is interested in joining ARLIA, please:
- Register your interest
- Indicate whether you would like to:
- Join as a council member
- Participate in specific working groups
- Host a pilot or roundtable in your market
Contact: Edmund Lee at elee@lscms.org
