Acta l Acta l Acta l Acta logistica ogistica ogistica ogistica - International International International International Scientific Journal about Logistics Scientific Journal about Logistics Scientific Journal about Logistics Scientific Journal about Logistics Volume: 8 2021 Issue: 4 Pages: 423-433 ISSN 1339-5629 STREAMLINING PACKAGING AS PART OF SUSTAINABLE REVERSE LOGISTICS PROCESSES Helena Fidlerová; Helena Makyšová; Lucia Sklenárová; Paula Bajdor ~ 423 ~ Copyright © Acta Logistica, www.actalogistica.eu doi:10.22306/al.v8i4.249 Received: 24 Aug. 2021; Revised: 25 Oct. 2021; Accepted: 10 Nov. 2021 STREAMLINING PACKAGING AS PART OF SUSTAINABLE REVERSE LOGISTICS PROCESSES Helena Fidlerová Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Institute of Industrial Engineering and Management, Jána Bottu 2781/25, 917 24 Trnava, Slovak Republic, EU, helena.fidlerova@stuba.sk (corresponding author) Helena Makyšová Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Institute of Industrial Engineering and Management, Jána Bottu 2781/25, 917 24 Trnava, Slovak Republic, EU, helena.makysova@stuba.sk Lucia Sklenárová Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Institute of Industrial Engineering and Management, Jána Bottu 2781/25, 917 24 Trnava, Slovak Republic, EU, lucia.sklenarova@stuba.sk Paula Bajdor Faculty of Management, Czestochowa University of Technology, Al. Armii Krajowej 19b, 42-201 Czestochowa, Poland, EU, paula.bajdor@gmail.com Keywords: packaging, reverse logistics, workflow, standard operating procedure, waste Abstract: The aim of the article is to present streamlining reverse logistics challenging the trends of increased amount costs of packaging and a need to meet sustainable development goals. Analysis of the packaging process has identified increased costs for the purchase of packaging, increased volume of imported and produced packaging material, increased volume of packaging waste and thus high recycling fees (related to producer responsibility). A proposed solution for streamlining reverse logistics processes have been introduced, including workflow of the packaging process, a new packaging registration system and measures for standardisation of the packaging process. The solution's main benefits are economical and ecological: first, cost reduction for purchasing new packaging materials and cost reduction for recycling fees, the second elimination of negative influence on the environment by respecting the waste management hierarchy and principles of the circular economy. Other benefits expected for the company are shorter, more informative, and practical training of new employees, reduced time for packaging process through its standardisation and visualisation, and more efficient separation of reusable packaging. 1 Introduction The growing interest in sustainable development and the pressure to reduce costs in logistics processes, including the area of packaging, has intensified in recent years. The objective of the paper is to propose specific measures to streamline packaging processes in the company, considering the analysis of the current state of packaging processes, respecting the goals of sustainable development, reducing costs for procurement of packaging materials and packaging technology, reducing the volume of packaging materials placed on the market in Slovakia, and eliminate negative impacts on the environment. Understanding and defining reverse logistics, the processes, functions, entities are specific in literature and practice. Hedgepeth (2020) considers reverse and forward logistics as parts of the supply chains within products flow and are transported from one place to another [1]. Gnap and Rovňaník (2012) describe a reverse logistics system based on the four basic processes: 1. Gatekeeping represents the entry control and inspection, through which decisions are made on the entry of material and product, representing a passive logistics element into the reverse logistics system. 2. Collection is a process representing the collection and gathering of products and materials for further processing. 3. Sortation and Separation divides materials according to how they will be further processed. 4. Disposition / Re- processing - products are processed according to their nature and why they entered the return flow, they can be repaired, their functional parts can be dismantled, recycled, incinerated or landfilled [2]. Reverse logistics functions (Bigoš et al. 2008) are collection, sorting, storage and packaging, transport, inspection, disassembly, processing, sale/reuse. The logistics chain of the reverse flow system consists of several entities that perform various functions within the process of recovery of products flowing into this chain. These subjects include final consumer, collector/collection company, equipment for material recovery or sorting, processor, manufacturer [3]. Starostka-Patyk (2017) [4] focuses on the groups of entities involved in reverse flow management.