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Blockchain - also known as I distributed ledger i - technology is set to revolutionise data and business process management and transactions. This position paper aligned with the I International Journal of Production Research i Special Issue on Blockchain in Transport and Logistics aims to provide a foundation for the cutting-edge leading cases of the adoption of blockchain in transport and logistics, and chart the next wave of blockchain's transformational role in transport and logistics. Research can include: how to design processes for blockchain execution; design blockchain smart contracts to help identify ways to improve inter-organisational business processes; and developing approaches for identifying, discovering, and analysing relevant processes that can work best using blockchain technology. Thus, not only do business processes get altered, but actual delivery scheduling based on flow information across the blockchain may source, store, and deliver goods differently over time - and even automatically - when blockchain information is linked to artificial intelligence and machine learning systems. [Extracted from the article]

From a theoretical perspective, a number of concepts, approaches and/or paradigms have been related to CE, such as cradle-to-cradle, sustainability, industrial ecology, blue economy, circular business models, closed loop value chain, green supply chain and closed loop supply chain to name a few. The paper by Batista et al. (2019) 'Circular supply chains in emerging economies - a comparative study of packaging recovery ecosystems in China and Brazil' proposes a circular supply chain framework to derive insights from specific packaging recovery supply chain ecosystems. In terms of scope circular supply chains extend the boundaries of closed-loop supply chains by taking into account post-production stewardship to include forward feeding flows (open loops) into alternative supply chains. We realise that the preferred approach to implementing circular economy principles on production systems is supply chain management-based models, in particular, closed-loop supply chain management. [Extracted from the article]