Reverse logistics: the state of the art and future perspectives

This paper characterizes the state of the art in the area of reverse logistics by analyzing publications in the ScienceDirect and Web of Science (WOS) databases through bibliometric and systematic analysis. From a sample of 462 papers, leading journals, authors, research institutions and countries, as well as research partnerships were identified. It was noted that publications on the subject have steadily increased over the years, with the United States having the largest number of publications and partnerships. Brazilian researchers should seek partnerships with foreign institutions, since they have demonstrated the potential to enrich discussions and foster quality publications. This paper identified the main studies in this area, as well as the gaps that could guide future researches.