Implementing circular economy in the textile and clothing industry

Abstract

This research reveals the current state of the circular economy (CE), challenges and opportunities of implementing CE and interventions that could facilitate effective implementation of CE in the textile and clothing (TC) industry. The study uses a survey method within 114 TC companies based in Bangladesh, Vietnam and India revealing the correlation of CE fields of action (take, make, distribute, use and recover) with sustainability (economic, environmental and social) performance. The lack of financial, technological and human resources along with management's reluctance and end-user's indifference to sustainability is the biggest challenge for CE implementation. The research further derives that the TC firms are unable to eradicate the challenges to CE implementation without a holistic approach that involves the collective effort from the industry, host government's incentives, their buyers and above all the conscience of the end-users. Finally, the study reveals that the collaborative efforts, knowledge sharing in sustainability management across the value chain and marketisation of the waste recycling, among others, are a few actions the stakeholders of the TC industry must adopt for implementing CE successfully.

Key capabilities for frugal innovation in developed economies: insights into the current transition towards sustainability

“…Specifically, firms that include frugal innovation in their market offerings emphasize providing core functionalities with cost-saving opportunities, reducing the spending of low-end consumers (with an inherent frugal saving orientation), and thus promoting their standard of living (Reinhardt et al 2018 ; Clausen and Ficther 2019 ; Winkler et al 2020 ; Saha et al 2021 ).…”

“…Therefore, we contend that the conception of frugal innovation in the context of the development of a Circular Economy, which constitutes a strategic objective for the European Union (CEAP 2020 ), can provide additional insights into the current shift for sustainability (Van Mossel et al 2018 ; Clausen and Fichter 2019 ; Kohler et al 2019 ; Hossain et al 2021 ). In other words, frugal innovation can reinforce circular innovation and circular innovation principles can strengthen the sustainable impact of frugal innovation (Albert 2019 ; Hossain 2021 ; Saha et al 2021 ). Thus, circular products are designed to achieve a longer life span, which prevents accelerated obsolescence and massive waste generation.…”

“…Frugal innovation remains until today without a “single definition” (Hossain 2020 , p. 1) or a “common understanding and conceptualization” (Von Janda et al 2020 , p. 2), although it may constitute an indispensable requirement for firms’ success in resource-scarce environments while also driving sustainable development (Albert 2019 ; Köhler et al 2019 ; Iqbal et al 2021 ; Winkler et al 2020 ; Ekins and Zenghelis 2021 ; Elf et al 2021 ; Hossain et al 2021 ; Pinkse and Bohnsack 2021 ; Saha et al 2021 ; Wigboldus and Jochemsen 2021 ). Thus, recent studies underline that frugal innovation is connected with the idea of “developing resource-scarce but quality solutions that are cheaper than the existing products” (Hossain 2020 , p. 1) and can be considered a first step option for a sustainable future (Van Mossel et al 2018 ; Köhler et al 2019 ; Ekins and Zenghelis 2021 ; Hossain et al 2021 ; Wigboldus and Jochemsen 2021 ).…”

Circular Economy and Sustainability of the Clothing and Textile Industry

“…These ideas have already been coined in recent review articles with much more depth. The articles/book chapters by Jia et al ( 2020 ); Moorhouse and Moorhouse ( 2017 ); Saha et al ( 2021 ); Shanmugam et al ( 2020 ); Shirvanimoghaddam et al ( 2020 ) are recommended to the readers who wish to get a much detailed account of the ideas below.…”

“…By 2050 it is anticipated that the fashion industry will use up to 25% of the world’s carbon budget (Pandey 2018 ). There is an urgent need to tackle the adverse effects of the fashion industry for sustainability through circular economy approaches (Saha et al 2021 ).…”