The Australian logistics industry has welcomed moves in the recent federal budget, followed by measures in New South Wales to improve policy and investment performance in infrastructure, after years of irresolute state policy, procrastination and diversion of public funding to other areas.

Over the next 10 years, online retail will continue to gain popularity in both developed and emerging markets and as a result, logistics companies are set to play a key role in providing vital supply chain management solutions that are able to evolve with consumers' changing shopping habits.

It's been called everything from a nuisance to a necessary evil. But reverse logistics can be much more than that.