A Potential Method For Adaption of Circular Economy Into the Textile and Apparel Industry?

Abstract

Rising greenhouse gas emissions, climate-related vulnerabilities, and the depletion of natural resources are compelling companies to shift from a linear to a circular economic model. Within this context, the production, use, and disposal stages of textile products have become clearly unsustainable under the current linear structure. Global fiber production reached a record 124 million tons in 2023, and an estimated 90–100 billion new garments are produced annually. Alarmingly, about 92 million tons of these garments end up in landfills, where textile waste is estimated to account for at least 7% of total global landfill volume. The production chain—from fiber manufacturing to fabric processing—relies heavily on fossil fuels, resulting in significant resource consumption and environmental impact. The sector is known to contribute approximately 3% of global CO₂ emissions and 20% of global water pollution. The circular textile model aims to extend product life and maintain material flows within the economic system through repair, reuse, and recycling at the end of the product lifecycle. This approach is not a passing trend but a necessity for conserving natural resources, ensuring sustainable growth, promoting responsible consumption, and supporting overall economic well-being. This article reviews studies outlining methods through which textile and apparel firms can adopt circularity and sustainability principles. It argues that a secure transition requires coordinated actions at internal, external, and broader environmental levels, and that the speed and success of this transition depend not only on firms’ circularity performance but also on the support of municipalities, NGOs, and consumer attitudes.

World fiber production rised to a record 124 million tonnes in 2023 and it is estimated that around 90-100 billion new apparel items are produced globally every year. Regrettably, 92 million metric tons of those clothings  end up in landfills. Textiles and apparel currently constitute at least 7% of the total amount of waste in global landfill space. It is also known that the wet processes in dyeing and finishing, where colour and other chemicals are applied to textile products, are responsible for 3% of global CO2 emissions together with around 20% of global water pollution. Along with fibre production and yarn preparation, these processes have the highest impacts on resource depletion, due to the energy-intensive operations based on fossil fuel energy.

It is clear that a shift to the circular economy in the textile and apparel industry is likely to offer several potential outcomes, that can positively impact the environment, economy, and society, such as intensive use of water, energy, and hazardous chemicals, excessive waste generation, the release of air pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions, and inadequate disposal of used textile products into the municipal solid waste.

In textiles and apparel, the circular economy model is a transformative concept that seeks to extend the lifespan of textile products by repairing, reusing, and recycling of materials at the end of their life cycle, keeping them within the economic system. This strategy is not just a trend, but a necessity for the conservation of our natural resources, fostering sustainable growth and employment, and promoting economic well-being.

In this paper, ongoing research and studies for appropriate approaches that textile and apparel factories can adopt to embrace circularity and sustainability are reviewed. The use of renewable raw materials, Redesigning production, Utilizing recycling options, Implementing new markets for extending lifecycle, Reducing  energy consumption, Reforming supply chain,  Implementing environmental impact awareness through customers, Eco-Design of textile products, and Transformation of fast fashion concepts are prominent methodologies for maintaining a circular economy leading to sustainable production and consumption.