INSEAD’s research on sustainable circular models among the most influential papers in last 30 years

Studies by INSEAD Professors Atalay Atasu and Luk Van Wassenhove have been recognised by members of the Product Operations Management Society for their impact.

Their papers are named among the top 10 most influential papers published in the first 30 years of the Production and Operations Management (POM) journal. They were voted for by POM society members based on an original list of 150 of the most cited papers since the publications launch in 1992.

Emeritus Professor Van Wassenhove is a co-author of two papers that made the top 10. His 2005 paper, “Sustainable Operations Management” looked at the growing awareness of the impact of businesses on the environment and resources. The article explored this challenge in the context of operations management, looking at areas like designing eco-friendly products, efficient and sustainable operations, and reusing materials.

His second entry in the top 10: “Product Reuse Economics in Closed‐Loop Supply Chain” was co-authored with INSEAD professor Atalay Atasu, Academic Director of the INSEAD Sustainable Business Initiative and Dan Guide from Smeal College of Business, Penn State.

Published in 2008, the paper examined existing research on whether reusing products makes good business sense. The authors concluded that there was a pressing need for further studies to explore real-world practices and that future research should focus on consumer behaviour, how to increase adoption of reusable products and the value of producers getting products back.

“It’s very rewarding/humbling to see this paper recognised for its impact among our peers,” commented Emeritus Professor Van Wassenhove. “However, it’s perhaps more important that this topic continues to get the attention it deserves as we move towards a more sustainable society.”

In fact, Atasu and Van Wassenhove, who are members of INSEAD’s Technology and Operations Management Department, have continued to build knowledge in the area of understanding how circularity can be put into practice in the real world.

Their research has explored everything from issues around integrating circularity for producers of white goods such as washing machines, the unseen challenges in the move towards solar and wind energy production and how to replicate the zero waste goal achieved on the Greek island of Tilos.

“Congratulations to Atalay and Luk for this well-deserved recognition. Their important research is just one example of INSEAD’s ongoing commitment to research impact and helping to find solutions to the pressing challenges faced by business and society today.” Lily Fang, Dean of Research and Innovation.

INSEAD faculty have published over 100 papers on topics related to SDG in the last five years, ranging from sustainable investing and the economic value of nature to gender equality, carbon budgets, income equity and AI’s impact on sustainability.

INSEAD also created 14 sustainability-related cases in the 2022/23 academic year.  In total, the Business School for the World has now produced over 178 teaching cases on sustainability, which are now used by business schools around the world.

Papers:

Atasu, A., V. D. Guide Jr., L. N. Van Wassenhove. 2008. Product reuse economics in closed‐loop supply chain research. Production and Operations Management, 17(5), 483-496.

Kleindorfer, P. R., K. Singhal, L. N. Van Wassenhove. 2005. Sustainable operations management. Production and Operations Management, 14(4), 482-492