Table 1.

Localization Improvements in a BCT-Enabled CE Approach

COVID-19’s influence on supply chains (The problem)	BCT-enabled CE approach (The response)	Example/Scenario
Exposed the shortcomings of an overly globalized production system whose value chains and logistics are complexly configured, yet operationally limited.	Apply BCT-enabled CE techniques such as resource circularity, secondary use of products, local sourcing of input material, optimized logistical chains, local/solar/wind energy generation, reverse logistics, additive manufacturing.	Problem: With the governmentally imposed shut-down in China, Apple, Inc. had a shortage in its shipments of parts and components to their global assembly plants. The pandemic might push
		Response: By applying CE strategies, Apple can ‘reuse’ components of older phones and BCT-based traceability and incentivization mechanisms to allow its customers to make an informed decision on phone purchase/replacement.
‘Right-to-repair’ as a global regulatory concern. Consumers and businesses cannot repair/service their own devices.	Provision of the ‘right-to-repair’ option for businesses and consumers during disaster situations and beyond.	Problem: Break-down of medical equipment due to over-use or other events. Repair is restricted to favor planned obsolescence
	Promote modularity and standardization in product designs for easy repair and reuse.	Response: Apply BCT-based repairability for medical equipment. Manufacturers can incentivize people to repair products through an acceptable process. The manufacturer can send or store spare parts at device locations that are traceable throughout the supply chain. Manufacturers can share designs of products that can be 3D-printed. Designs could be maintained on a public blockchain while addressing the concerns of intellectual property rights.
Contradicted the notion of production efficiency, such as lean/JIT methods, resulting from coordination and resource shortage challenges at different sourcing locations.	Create intermediate stocking and buffering of components; reduce packaging, storage, and transportation resources; Conserve energy; Use of Internet of Things.	Problem: Shortage of toilet papers.
		Response: Develop with drainage-based cellulose collection techniques that can be reprocessed into toilet paper.
Exposed to healthy immunity limitation of employees who are forced to travel for servicing, maintenance, and business reasons. Travel incurs economic, environmental, and social costs.	Creating a trusted database of database of trained personnel who may available locally to make immediate fixes and/or remote fix supports. Hands-on training will reduce overdependence and increase employability.	Problem: In event of machinery failure, businesses expect device providers to fly in technicians from different parts for efficiency reasons.
		Response: Using a BCT-based ‘maintenance’ platform, local technicians can be trained to fix any machine failures.
Informed manufacturers about the downside of manufacturing products that either fails to last longer or are forced into pre-mature obsolescence.	Reduce resource wastage; Encourage sufficiency; Enhance reuse, recycling, and reclamation of products and components.	Problem: New versions of cellphones with more features and similar/sometimes lower prices are released in short timespans. Since they are made of cheaper quality screens/batteries that do not last long. This trend is common with several products, including automobiles.
		Response: Design and manufacture eco-friendly products that last long, can be refurbished, and recycled after end of use.
Exposed to the shortage of vicinity-based distribution intermediaries for stocking and supplying of rare input materials/resources/components	Develop vicinity-based stocking and distribution facilities for stocking and supplying to local stores.	Problem: Shortage of bottled water, food, meat storage facilities in vicinities.
		Response: Use of BCT to locate and rent unused storage facilities in the region, such as a scalable platform for local groceries.
Exposed to a lack of initiatives to co-create essential consumer products and by-products from locally generated wastes.	Formulate government-supported ‘region-specific’ academia-industry collaborations and industrial parks to create innovative by-products from local wastes/resources.	Problem: Shortage of toilet paper.
		Response: Develop with drainage-based cellulose collection techniques that can be reprocessed into toilet paper.
Informed developed nations about the downside of making third-world countries to work at lower wages.	Promote manufacturing practices in third world nations that are practiced in developed nations. Improve health and infrastructure systems in and around factory locations.	Problem: Textile manufacturers in Haiti are still struggling to recover from the aftermath of the 2019 earthquake due to poor economic conditions.
		Response: US firms utilizing Haiti's textile labor could adopt the practice of better pay, infrastructure, and health facilities.