Manufacturer’s decision-making model under carbon emission permits repurchase strategy and capital constraints

Considering that the manufacturer produces normal products (NPs) and low-carbon remanufactured products (LCRPs), this paper studied the production decisions under capital constraints and the Carbon Emission Permits Repurchase Strategy (CEPRS). The direct selling model and supply chain model are constructed respectively and optimal decisions are given. On this basis, the influences of CEPRS on optimal decisions and corporate performance are analyzed. This study shows that for the capital-constrained manufacturer, adopting the CEPRS is conducive to promoting the production of LCRPs. In the direct selling model, a higher end-of-period carbon price is not always beneficial for the environment. In the supply chain model, as the end-of-period carbon price increases, the low-cap manufacturer tends to lower the wholesale price of LCRPs, while the high-cap manufacturer tends to increase the wholesale price of NPs. A lower carbon cap is more effective in controlling carbon emissions, while a higher carbon cap generates a higher profit. Moreover, the manufacturer’s preference for operation mode is affected by the carbon cap. Specifically, the low-cap manufacturer prefers the direct selling model, while the high-cap manufacturer prefers the supply chain model.