Which term refers to goods being returned to the supplier?

The term that refers to goods being returned to the supplier is reverse logistics. This concept encompasses the process of moving products from their final destination back to the manufacturer or supplier for the purpose of return, repair, remanufacture, recycling, or disposal. The focus of reverse logistics lies in managing the flow of goods in the opposite direction of conventional supply chain processes, which emphasizes the movement of products from suppliers to consumers.

In contrast, forward logistics pertains to the traditional flow of products from manufacturers to consumers, which does not involve returns. Direct shipping refers to the practice of sending goods directly from a supplier to a customer without going through a central warehouse, and it does not connote returns to the supplier. Waste management involves the collection, treatment, and disposal of waste materials, which is unrelated to the concept of returning goods to suppliers. Therefore, reverse logistics is the correct term associated with the return of goods to suppliers.