# At the Nexus of Blockchain Technology, the Circular Economy, and Product Deletion
## 3 Framework and Propositions
### Meso: Circular Economy at Networks and Supply Chain Level
#### 4.2.1 Reverse Logistics  
Environmental concerns motivate supply chain networks to incorporate reverse logistics activities and networks into their classical supply chain processes and close their supply chain loops. Reverse logistics refers to collecting and transferring products from the point of consumption (end consumers) to the origination of supply chains in order to recover value [55]. Reverse logistics may contain various \"Re's\" activities such as recycling, recovering, remanufacturing, and refurbishing. Products in each stage of their life cycle might be subject to return and reverse logistics. Accurate information regarding the condition of products, their location, their quality, and the undertaken processes is the core of efficient reverse logistics operations. This information is difficult to acquire through complex and multi-tier supply chain networks and after use by consumers. Blockchain can address this issue by presenting reliable information on the history of the materials and products. Every classical and reverse supply chain transaction can create a record on blockchain ledgers that are immutable and traceable. This historical information that is visible to supply chain networks can be used to help them make a sound decision about the proper reverse logistics activity that best matches the condition of products. Blockchains can further leverage reverse logistics using smart contracts. Smart contracts can facilitate returning, reusing, and recycling activities between supply chain parties when product deletion occurs. A smart contract may reflect the agreement about the condition and quality of a product or material. When a returned product or material is identified, the smart contract can automatically generate the payment based on the defined product conditions [34]. The product condition may be evaluated and certified in the system. It can also determine the eventual plight of a product or material, e.g., reuse, recycle, or remanufacturing the product or material. For example, some companies have a take-back system that allows their customers to return products at the end of their lifecycle back to the stores and receive a discount for future purchases [52]. Using smart contracts, those customers who returned products with high recyclability potentials which can create more revenue for the company can receive more discounts and credits. This approach can further incentivize customers to return products and close the supply chain loop. Payment can be done in terms of cryptocurrencies and thus save time, especially in international transactions. The processes would be easier for customers and thus motivate customers to return the problematic products. Customers can track return products back to the supply chains. Furthermore, traceable information regarding the reverse logistics of products can be used to evaluate the reusability of the deleted products and their associated materials. Products with minimum value creation over their entire life cycle can be deleted or replaced with products that create more value to the reverse logistics activities. When products are deleted, the reverse logistics cycles will likely start to lose material from that product, or temporarily have additional obsolete non-saleable material. In each case, knowing the length of time a product or material is in a CE is important to be able to plan for reverse logistics returned resources. Information, long and short-term information, can provide this forecast and returned products and materials inventory. Thus, if a system is dependent on a particular material or returned product, then there might be possibilities to keep producing a product or material due to value for material supply for a reverse logistics network. For example, for remanufacturing, knowing the location and condition of a 'core' for a product is necessary and the technology to trace this material is necessary [56].