Optimal strategies of green express packaging recycling and sales mode in an online platform

The rapid development of platform retailing causes the explosive growth of express packaging. At the same time, the extensive use of express packaging has caused a burden on the environment. To reduce environmental impacts, the platform considers cooperating with the green packaging manufacturer and recycling express packaging. In addition, the platform also faces sales mode selection with the product manufacturer—reselling mode or marketplace mode. However, the platform's optimal strategies for green express packaging recycling and sales mode are not clear. Therefore, to solve the problem, we investigate four possible scenarios, including RN (reselling-no-recycling) scenario, RR (Reselling-recycling) scenario, MN (Marketplace-no-recycling) scenario, and MR (Marketplace-recycling) scenario. Through backward induction, we find that firstly, when the platform chooses the reselling mode, the recycling strategy is closely related to recycling efficiency and green investment efficiency. However, when adopting the marketplace mode, the platform is always inclined to recycle. Secondly, the platform would choose the marketplace mode as long as the commission rate is larger, no matter whether to recycle. Furthermore, the MR scenario is the best strategy for the platform in most cases. In the special scenario where the product manufacturer has the right to choose sales mode before recycling strategies, the optimal strategies of recycling and sales mode are closely related to green investment efficiency, recycling efficiency, and commission rate.