Major barriers to information sharing in reverse logistics of construction and demolition waste

Reverse logistics (RL) is crucial for construction and demolition (C&D) waste management. In practice, information sharing (IS) is considered as an effective means to strengthen the coordination among stakeholders, so as to deliver in time, reduce costs, and address the mismatch between demand and supply of RL. However, the adoption of IS in RL of C&D waste is dissatisfactory due to various barriers, and these barriers inevitably affect each other. Furthermore, the interrelationships among barriers systematically affect the significance of each barrier in the adoption of IS because a particular barrier could present significant challenges to IS through its interrelationship with other barriers. Prior studies have explored strategies to remove these barriers, but few analyzed their complex interrelationships. To fill the gap, this study aims to identify the major barriers systematically and to analyze their hierarchical relationships by using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement (MICMAC). To start with, a total of 23 preliminary barriers were identified through relevant literatures. Then, 14 major barriers were screened out and the adjacency matrix was established through the feedback from the 11 experts. The corresponding reachability matrix was obtained with Python software, and a hierarchical structure was developed to further analysis. These major barriers were classified into multiple categories based on the calculation of driving power and dependence power. Meanwhile, the findings reveal that lack of certainty in market environment, lack of trust among stakeholders, and lack of government support are the three most important barriers negatively influencing the IS in RL of C&D waste. This study helps scholars understand the intricate relationships between barriers and also provides an effective way to combine ISM and MICMAC techniques. Also, it provides valuable references for project managers to understand the priorities of barriers and to allocate appropriate resources to mitigate the major barriers.