Traceability in Circular Supply Chains: the role of digital technologies

Integrating circularity into supply chain management is imperative. Companies are increasingly expected to take proactive steps toward environmental sustainability. Issues such as resource waste, air pollution, and the use of non recyclable materials are critical challenges in supply chain management. Supply chain mapping has emerged as a fundamental tool for tracking raw materials, waste production, emissions, and the overall sustainability performance. This study contributes to the literature on supply chain mapping, specifically within a stream of research that investigates product traceability from a circularity perspective. A central focus of this research is the technological advancements that enable product traceability, with a particular focus on emerging tools such as the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which is recognized as a key enabler of circular supply chains. Through a bibliometric literature review, this study aimed to explore these themes, advance the existing knowledge, and identify research gaps. The main findings revealed a predominant focus on upstream and midstream traceability, whereas research on downstream product tracking, particularly in the context of reuse and recycling, remains largely underdeveloped. Furthermore, the role of DPPs in post-production tracking, particularly in monitoring product components with a focus on recycling and reuse, remains an unexplored research avenue.