Apply DEMATEL to Analyzing Key Barriers to Implementing the Circular Economy: An Application for the Textile Sector

Abstract

Continuous improvement and innovation are solid foundations for the textile sector to maintain excellent growth and active sustainability. As the limited resources possessed by textile companies generally result in the incapability of implementing circular economy (CE) strategies simultaneously, recently, researchers advocate that organizations should analyze the influential inter-relationship between key barriers to explore the more dominant determinants for designing improved actions for implementing CE in the textile sector. CE implementation in the textile sector appears to be in its infancy. Although much attention has been paid to CE implementation barriers, the present study tries to fill this research gap by analyzing the causal relationships among the CE barriers in the textile sector. Therefore, the twelve barriers are identified by an extensive literature review, and the application of the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) based on the expert options from the textile sector. Subsequently, the causal inter-relationship among the key CE barriers is based on expert opinions using the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL). The results of this study indicate that three key barriers require quick action: “consumers lack knowledge and awareness about reused/recycle (B1)”, “lack of successful business models and frameworks to implement CE (B3)”, and “lack of an information exchange system between different stakeholders (B8)”. In addition, the results provide significant managerial implications, including implementations of CE in the textile sector. Not only should the government build regulations and friendly laws and encourage environmentally-friendly materials but the textile companies should also focus or monitor the recycling methods and quality to overcome the CE implementation issues. In addition, this study contributes to the textile sector transition toward CE by using the novel methodology for determining and prioritizing the key barriers. Finally, this work would help top management and the practitioners to better design effective infrastructural strategies for the textile sector transition towards CE.

A Delphi-Régnier Study Addressing the Challenges of Textile Recycling in Europe for the Fashion and Apparel Industry

“…Binding economic performance, social inclusiveness, and environmental resilience [26], this new industrial paradigm promotes material flows systems in which resources are optimized, thus enabling "sustainability" covering a broader framing [23]. Indeed, by promoting the reduction of resources extraction, the extension of the product lifecycle, and the minimization of waste production [27,28], the transition to circular business models has the potential to decrease the environmental impact of the industry [2,6,9,29,30]. However, the review suggests that companies are selectively implementing circular actions in their supply chains, rather than disrupting the entire business model [9] and addressing the main environmental impacts of their activities [12].…”

“…However, the review suggests that companies are selectively implementing circular actions in their supply chains, rather than disrupting the entire business model [9] and addressing the main environmental impacts of their activities [12]. In fact, by bridging production and consumption activities [12,15,25], "circular economy" involves the implementation of several strategies usually suggested through the "R framework" and requiring radical systemic changes in how products and materials are manufactured, used, and disposed of [29][30][31]. A varying level of detail exist in the literature [32] and up to "10R principles"can be found namely refuse, rethink, reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, repurpose, recycle, and recover [27,32,33].…”

“…The literature on the topic is fragmented, and empirical studies remain limited, which impedes an explicit evidence-based state-of-the art on the current challenges in the sector. Although a flourishing literature on textile-specific barriers to the implementation of the "circular economy" has advanced knowledge in the industry [12,29,32], these studies do not provide a systematic analysis of the existing issues related to the textile recycling value chain.…”

“…This method differs from a simple interview and helps to advance empirical knowledge on textile recycling with the confrontation of the experts' opinions between the iterative rounds. Moreover, while barriers of textile recycling have started to be explored in the industry [12,14,29,32], this Delphi-Régnier study provides a holistic analysis of the contextual challenges and addresses the priority concerns in the sector, by allowing consensus and dissensus on the topic to arise. The research focuses on the European situation but still provides general findings advancing the literature on sustainability in the fashion and apparel industry.…”

An Innovative Visualization Tool to Boost and Monitor Circular Economy: An Overview of Its Applications at Different Industrial Sectors

“…Several studies are focused on the identification of the main barriers to the design and implementation of successful CE strategies [15][16][17]. One of the most recognized limits for the overcoming of the CE practice-theory gap is the lack of clear and consistent methods to actually assess the circularity and sustainability of products, processes, business models, and strategies.…”