The role of digital technologies in the circular transition of the textile sector

Abstract

In recent years, the Circular Economy has gained significant traction, driven by increased awareness among governments, companies, and consumers about the imperative to optimize resource consumption. The textile industry, acknowledged as one of the most resource-intensive sectors, is now actively adopting circular practices to supersede traditional linear strategies. These circular practices may cover all the aspects of the product lifecycle from the design and production usage to the end of life, aiming to value as much as possible the resources used. In parallel, the fourth industrial revolution reshapes manufacturing companies by integrating vital enabling technologies on the shop floor, enhancing operational efficiency alongside existing information systems. Nevertheless, exploring how these technologies may facilitate the circular transition of the textile industry has been performed in a scattered manner by some authors, and a comprehensive picture covering the entire product lifecycle opportunities still needs to be included. To address this gap, the authors analyzed 20 academic articles published till November 2023, retrieved from the Scopus database. The findings from the literature provided the use of digital technologies to implement the transition of a circular economy within the textile industry. The framework is developed to integrate existing studies, assisting textile industries in leveraging digital transformation for a circular transition across product lifecycle management. Finally, this study highlights future research directions that could offer valuable insights to practitioners and researchers.

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