# 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
#### 4.2.3 Supply Chain Monitoring  
A circular economy contains operations that recollect the value of materials and products. Recapturing circular economy values require tracing materials and product flow in supply chains with sometimes complex and multifaceted networks of participants. Information discrepancy and asymmetry among supply chain participants can impede the identification of opportunities and potentials for enhancing sustainability efforts and a circular economy [57]. Blockchain technology provides supply chain transparency and traceability. Supply chain members from upstream to downstream can obtain accurate and updated information about the products and inventory levels.  
Supply chain transactions related to the materials and product flows can be recorded on blockchain ledgers. Some transactions may be generated automatically by smart contracts or collected by automatic electronic sensors, such as RFID or Internet of Things-enabled devices [58]. Supply chain members can monitor and audit information using blockchain ledgers and adjust their inventory, optimize resource usage, and modify their processes to generate minimum wastes. Effective information sharing can proliferate collaboration among supply chain members and build strategic and operationally beneficial relationships [59]. Supply chain members can address sustainability issues by integrating the information, evaluating the efficiency of their supply chain processes, and positing solutions to optimize circularity of materials and products such as replacing some materials or investing on green technological advancements.  
From a CE perspective, waste exchanges within supply chains and amongst partners may exist. Blockchains can be used to find additional supply chains from existing waste streams. If a product or material has profitable byproducts that can form new supply chains, blockchain can help identify these alternative mechanisms. Blockchain information of product history can identify past materials uses and byproducts that may be used to identify future supply chains. This type of additional and easily accessible information may delay deletion decisions. Alternatively, byproduct and waste exchange information that was found not to be valid and performing well, maybe cause to delete a material or supply chain branch.  
As blockchain technology presents a platform for data sharing in supply chains, product information exchanges among supply chain actors can be captured on blockchain ledgers. Supply chain networks can monitor the lifecycle of products and evaluate the green performance of supply chain activities and products flowing through them [60]. Those materials and products that degrade the environment from their sourcing and undertaken operations and processes and create more wastes are candidates for deletion or altering by environmental-friendly products. A blockchain-enabled supply chain requires a high level of coordination among supply chain members [16]. This can increase the involvement of supply chain actors into product deletion decision making. Supply chain members can make joint decisions about removing products with poor circularity from the supply chains. The joint decisions may decrease conflicts and challenges of product deletion implementation, as supply chain members already agreed on the product deletion decision.