Abstract: To comply with carbon reduction policies or reduce production costs, manufacturers of low-value products can adopt two green production strategies: remanufacturing alone or remanufacturing with additional carbon emission reduction(CER)technology investment.This paper develops a closed-loop supply chain(CLSC)model consisting of a manufacturer, retailer, third-party recycler, and carbon-conscious consumers. We analyze the manufacturers optimal production strategy under carbon tax policy, then extend the study to cap-and-trade policy and scenarios incorporating consumer preferences for remanufactured products.Key findings indicate:(1)Under uniform carbon policy, manufacturers consistently prefer CER-integrated remanufacturing when the technology investment proves profitable;(2)In hybrid policy scenarios where standard remanufacturing operates under cap-and-trade while CER remanufacturing falls under carbon tax, manufacturers choose conventional remanufacturing when CER costs exceed a threshold;(3)Under carbon tax, significant consumer preference for remanufactured products leads manufacturers to select standard remanufacturing, otherwise CER remanufacturing is preferred.These results provide operational guidance for manufacturers navigating carbon-regulated markets.

Key words: carbon tax policy, carbon cap-and-trade policy, consumers preference, carbon reduction, remanufacturing