Enhancing sustainability in electric vehicle reverse logistics from an open innovation perspective using fermatean fuzzy risk analysis

The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) highlights the need for sustainable reverse logistics ecosystems to manage end-of-life batteries. These ecosystems involve diverse stakeholders with conflicting interests, making risk management critical for environmental and economic sustainability. This study identifies key stakeholders in EV Reverse Logistics Ecosystems (EVRLEs), evaluates their interrelationships, and prioritizes risks using a novel fuzzy-based method. The proposed method integrates interval-valued Fermatean fuzzy sets (IVFFSs) with the Matrix of Alliances and Conflicts: Tactics, Objectives and Recommendations (MACTOR) method to address uncertainty and analyze stakeholder influence and risk dynamics. Findings reveal government agencies as the most dominant stakeholder, while manufacturers, suppliers, and innovation partners are key stakeholders under market and regulatory constraints. Dominated stakeholders, including recycling centers and logistics providers, operate in upstream flows, whereas EV users, universities, and research institutions have limited influence. Environmental, financial, and safety risks require coordinated stakeholder engagement. Sensitivity and comparative analyses confirm the stability of the results and the consistency of the proposed method. The study supports policymakers and industry practitioners in enhancing collaboration, regulatory alignment, and open innovation in EV battery reverse logistics.