Sustainable Textile Industry: An Overview

The purpose of this study was to offer a general concept and overview of the textile industry’s environmental sustainability assessment. The textile and garment industries cause environmental damage at every stage of manufacturing, from the cultivation of raw materials through the disposal of finished goods. Chemical loading, high water consumption, high energy consumption, air pollution, solid waste, and odour creation are all key environmental concerns in the textile industry. To achieve sustainable production, it is necessary to examine the performance of the textile sector while considering the three elements of sustainability. To study and locate recent and related works, five keywords were used: environmental; sustainability; eco-design; manufacturer; supply chain management. All through the life cycle of textile products, the textile sector has a substantial environmental impact. This paper illustrates how the textile industry may use strategic ways to improve ecologically sustainable textile product usage and manufacturing. A discussion is focused on how to be increased sustainability in the textile industry. This paper introduces key principles for ecologically sustainable business practices to consider (e.g., eco-design, corporate social responsibility, and green supply chain management). It is critical that all stakeholders in the textile industry, including consumers, producers, environmental protection is emphasized in the manufacture and use of textile goods by the distribution chain and customers

Sustainable fibre for sustainable fashion supply chains: where the journey to sustainability begins

Adopting a sustainable business model is an essential element of gaining competitive advantage. Specifically, the management of fashion and textile supply chains characterized by geographical extension requires paying particular attention to environmental and social sustainability. Following an analysis of the literature on sustainable supply chains in the fashion and textile industries, this qualitatively based research examines – from a supply chain perspective – the sustainability initiatives implemented by a yarn and garment producer through a single case study. Subsequently, the classification of potential sustainability initiatives is presented. From this investigation, several good practices for sustainable fashion supply chains can be identified, providing a reference point for similar companies. Keywords: sustainable fashion supply chain, sustainable textiles, closed loop supply chai

A design framework for enabling sustainability in the clothing sector

This article discusses general strategies to enable environmental sustainability within the clothing sector, providing a framework for decision makers involved in the development of programs and policies for this sector. It initially revises the environmental impact of the clothing system and determines its key environmental sustainability priorities. The framework involves five evolutionary strategies for enabling sustainable consumption and production: 1) environmental improvement of flows throughout the supply chain; 2) environmental redesign of existing clothes; 3) design of new clothes intrinsically more sustainable; 4) design of cloth-service systems and 5) promoting life styles towards sufficient consumption. The practical implications of each strategy is analysed based on correspondent ex-post-facto case studies identified in Brazil, using data collected through literature review and desktop research

Steps towards Sustainability in Fashion: Snapshot Bangladesh A resource for fashion students and educators

This publication offers three case studies, alongside ideas of how they could be used to develop thinking in fashion education. They illustrate some of the different ways sustainability is being approached and interpreted through fashion business in Bangladesh. Case studies of People Tree, New Look and Echotex offer insights into ways in which organisations address long hours, low pay and buying practices. Case study Aranya Crafts offers a view focusing on pioneering work in in natural dyes. The case-studies, published in collaboration with Fashioning an Ethical Industry are an output of a British Council funded Development Partnerships in Higher Education (DelPHE) project bringing together LCF, the BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT) in Dhaka and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to deliver research that explores better practice and ways forward to improve the competitiveness of the Bangladesh manufacturing sector to add value in this area

Can international alliances influence sustainable fashion practices: a UK/Bangladesh experience?

The presentation will outline current work that has been undertaken as part of a three-year British Council funded Development Partnerships in Higher Education (DelPHE) project that brings together international collaboration between London College of Fashion (LCF), the BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT) in Dhaka and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). As retailers are increasingly under pressure to ensure that ethical and environmental standards run all the way through the supply chain, there is a need for research projects to explore best practice and ways forward to improve the competitiveness of the Bangladesh manufacturing sector to add value in this area

Supply chain challenges for sustainability: the case of waste textiles as raw materials

Purpose: This paper addresses the growing problem of textile waste in the rapidly developing cities of subSaharan Africa and examines, from a supply chain perspective, the potential for waste textile materials to be transformed into the raw materials for new consumer products. Research Approach: The paper reflects on the outcomes of a field trip to Dar es Salaam in which stakeholders in a hypothesised textile waste supply chain were interviewed and waste textile materials were analysed in order to determine their content and appropriateness for reuse. Findings from the field study have been compared with current literature on logistics and market creation, waste generation, management and recycling in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings and Originality: The findings show that a rudimentary system has been in place for many years to collect and recycle textiles in Dar es Salaam. However, at the same time as textile waste is projected to increase in the city, collection rates are falling. The chief reasons for the falling rates are failures in the ‘modernised mixture’ approach to waste collection employed by Dar es Salaam City Council and market failure for the collected materials. Alternative combinations of ‘modernised mixtures’, incorporating community-based organisations, are likely to increase textile yields from unplanned urban areas but previous high-profile failures in such systems within Dar es Salaam mean there is caution on both sides in entering into such a relationship. The more pressing problem is to identify appropriate end markets for the textile materials, since in a country where recycling is entirely market-driven, failure to do so will undermine any attempt to improve the collection system. Whilst many studies have considered general recycling practices in sub-Saharan Africa, there are few investigations into textile waste. Furthermore, those existing studies do not consider the importance of understanding fibre composition of the materials in order to determine the most appropriate end markets. Research Impact: The research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on ‘bottom of the pyramid’ approaches to sustainable futures. Practical Impact: The work presented considers supply chain problems and offers approaches to tackling the increasing waste management issues of Dar es Salaam and proposes a mechanism for doing so which has the potential to provide income for the poorest sectors of the urban society

DEFRA Clothing Action Plan

As part of Defra’s Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) programme, a voluntary clothing industry initiative was co-ordinated by Defra with the aim to improve the environmental and ethical performance of clothing. The Sustainable Clothing Roadmap aims to improve the environmental and social performance of clothing, building on existing initiatives and by co-ordinating action by key clothing supply chain stakeholders. Although organisations in the clothing supply chain have already taken significant steps to reduce adverse environmental and social impacts, further industry-wide co-operation and agreed commitments will enable that process to accelerate. That is the rationale behind the collaborative nature of the roadmap. The DEFRA initiative is now a WRAP (Waste Resources Action Plan) initiative. Centre for Sustainable Fashion participate on the WRAP steering group and the sub groups on design and recycling. Dilys Williams advised this report's lead author