Sustainability Innovation in the Textile Industry: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The aim of this review study is to understand the current state and practice of sustainability innovation in the textile industry. The textile industry is regarded as one of the industries that faces the biggest challenges in incorporating sustainability in its business practices. In this study, we conducted a systematic review to synthesize empirical knowledge relevant to sustainable innovation in the textile industry. From the systematic search process, 41 papers that were identified met the criteria of inclusion and were then analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis. The findings showed that the attention of researchers toward sustainability innovation has increased in the recent years. Sustainability innovation practices in the textile industry were identified. Sustainability product innovation includes ecodesign, ecolabel, life cycle assessment, materials, and packaging. Sustainability process innovation includes cleaner production, ecoefficiency, waste handling, supply chain management, and enzymatic textile processing in process innovation. Sustainability organizational innovation includes the environmental management system (EMS) and corporate policy, collaboration, business model innovation, culture and knowledge management, and enzymatic textile processing. This study found that the dominant sustainability innovation practice discussed in the textile industry is more related to the ecological innovation aspect compared to social innovation. As consumer demand for ecofriendly products is growing, as are more stringent regulations, it is important for business players and policymakers to develop sustainability innovation in the textile industry together.

Introductory Chapter: Sustainability from Past to Future

“…Due to the environmental burdens arising from production processes and use, it also has environmental aspects. Within the global consumer goods industry, the textile industry is the second largest one, following the food industry [7] and has a significant place in world trade [8]. The size of the global textile market reached $ 961.5 billion in 2019 [9] and is foreseen to be roughly $1.4 trillion by 2028 [10,11].…”

“…The size of the global textile market reached $ 961.5 billion in 2019 [9] and is foreseen to be roughly $1.4 trillion by 2028 [10,11]. It is a global industry that employs tens of millions of people worldwide [8] and more than 300 million workers are employed in the textile value chain [12]. So, the textile industry has a vital place in terms of creating employment in many different countries [12][13][14][15][16].…”

From Traditional Industry to Smart Regional Specialisation: Textile Industry Transformation in the Łódź Region

“…It allows textile products to naturally break down at the end of their life cycle, reducing the burden on landfills and minimizing the persistence of non-degradable textile waste in the environment. Additionally, the incorporation of biodegradable materials aligns with the broader goal of conserving natural resources and reducing the reliance on petrochemicalderived raw materials [27][28][29].…”

Exploring Cost Stickiness in the Textile Industry: A Comparative Analysis between the Nordic Countries and Spain through Panel Data Analysis

“…Despite extensive research into cost stickiness, a notable gap remains in our comprehension of how regional variations influence cost behavior, especially within the textile industry. This sector, characterized by its substantial environmental footprint, high fixed costs, labor-intensive processes, complex supply chains, and the need for rapid adaptation to changing consumer preferences [3][4][5], offers a fertile ground for exploring cost management strategies in response to challenges like sustainability, fast fashion, and technological innovation [6][7][8][9].…”