to closed-loop supply chains -- Production closed-loop supply chains -- Reverse logistics in a pharmaceutical company: the Schering case -- Reverse logistics in an electronics company: the NEC-Cl case -- Distribution closed-loop supply chains -- The chip in crate: the Heineken case -- Recovery and reuse of maritime containers: the Blue Container Line case -- Empty container reposition: the port of Rotterdam case -- Commercial returns closed-loop supply chains -- Commercial returns of sun-protection products: the L’Oréal France case -- Commercial returns of printers: the HP case -- Commercial returns in a mail order company: the Wehkamp case -- Repair and replacement closed-loop supply chains -- The repair of electronic equipment: the OMRON case -- Tire recovery: the RetreadCo case -- The closed-loop supply chain of service parts: the Whirlpool case -- End-of-use closed-loop supply chains -- End-of-lease asset recovery: the Océ case -- Cellular telephone reuse: the ReCellular Inc. case -- Recovery of car engines: the Mercedes-Benz case -- End-of-life closed-loop supply chains -- Recovering end-of-life large white goods: the Dutch initiative -- End-of-life tire recovery: the Thessaloniki initiative -- Conclusions on closed-loop supply chains -- Future developments in managing closed-loop supply chains.Introduction Closing supply chains refers to taking care of items once they are no longer desired or can no longer be used by their user. Smart management of closed-loop supply chains means profitable recovery of value from these items (products, functional components, materials or packaging). The company closing the supply chain may be the original equipment manuf- turer (OEM), a distribution partner or a third party not involved in the f- ward distribution. In recent years, the management of closed-loop supply chains has gained importance because of increased legislation on producer respon- bility, requiring companies to take back products from customers and to organize for proper recovery and disposal. This legislation is partially due to increased awareness of environmental issues. However, smart com- nies have also understood that returned products often contain lots of value to be recovered. They manage closed-loop supply chains simply because it is a profitable business proposition.