THE INTEGRATION OF REVERSE LOGISTICS AND ECOLOGICAL PACKAGING DESIGN ON GREEN LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF CIRCULAR DISTRIBUTION CAPABILITIES FOR BIOMASS PELLETS AT THE CIAMIS WASTE BANK

Abstract

The increasing volume of organic waste, particularly leaf waste, creates challenges in waste management while providing opportunities for biomass pellet production within a circular economy framework. However, research integrating reverse logistics, ecological packaging design, and circular distribution capability in community-based waste management remains limited. This study aims to examine the effects of reverse logistics integration and ecological packaging design on green logistics performance, with circular distribution capability as a mediating variable at the Ciamis Waste Bank. A quantitative explanatory research design was employed using survey data from 124 respondents involved in biomass waste management and pellet distribution. Data were collected using a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS. The results indicate that reverse logistics integration positively and significantly affects circular distribution capability (β = 0.155; p = 0.002) and green logistics performance (β = 0.610; p < 0.001). Ecological packaging design also has a positive and significant effect on circular distribution capability (β = 0.217; p < 0.001) and green logistics performance (β = 0.564; p < 0.001). Circular distribution capability has the strongest direct effect on green logistics performance (β = 0.663; p < 0.001). Furthermore, circular distribution capability significantly mediates the effects of reverse logistics integration and ecological packaging design on green logistics performance. This study contributes to the circular economy and green logistics literature by positioning circular distribution capability as a mediating mechanism in community-based biomass logistics. The findings provide actionable insights for improving reverse logistics integration, sustainable packaging, and circular distribution practices at the Ciamis Waste Bank.