This Executive Brief compiles the key results obtained from some ongoing research and innovation studies conducted with the scope of two ongoing projects: (i) CLOSeD (Circular clothing dichotomies in global-local supply chain dispersion) funded by Ikea Family Research Foundation; ongoing since January 2021, and (ii) Circular Logistics (Exploring the role of logistics in the circular textile ecosystem) funded by Formas (Swedish research council for sustainable development); ongoing since May 2022. 

[More about the 2 projects here: CLOSeD↗  Circular Logistics↗]

This Executive Brief is one-of-its-kind, given that it synthesizes the results of multiple ongoing studies, and draws connection among them by presenting an overarching purpose of creating science-based logical reasoning and understanding of how circular clothing supply chains and ecosystems, and the organizations embedded within, can maximise their valorisation potential amid the changing landscape led by, for example, the European Union (EU)-wide planning and adoption of “EU Strategy for textiles”. 

A common thread of our argument, as put forward in this Executive Brief is while the textile circular economy is largely influenced in practice by recent technological advancements, related to circular material development, innovative products and processes, or digitalization of circular business models and operations, the motivation in driving them forward has been largely from an efficiency-gain perspective, both in terms of economics and ecology, that is address whether and how circular economy would minimise costs, enhance profitability, and render economies of scale. A novelty-centred perspective has been largely implicit in this regard; however critical to generate a top-line on how circular supply chains and ecosystems should generate sustainable value, beyond cost/profit dimensions.

To address this our Executive Brief presents the 5 distinct studies’ results. Each study is enriched by empirically-driven dataset, analytical framing and scientific methodology, while at the same time are aligned by a common objective: to explore and provide explanation of the main challenges to value generation in circular clothing supply chains and ecosystems, and what concrete strategic solutions are/can be devised.  

Ø  STUDY 1 explores the values currently uncaptured, new opportunities and strategies to capture them, from a multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder perspective, in context to European used clothing circular supply chain from multiple countries.

Ø  STUDY 2 checks the triple-bottom line sustainability credential of distributed Global North-South used clothing circular supply chain, by weighing the pros and cons against each other and finally proposing what needs further attention for future valorization.

Ø  STUDY 3 highlights the underlying supply chain capabilities prerequisite to design textile-to-textile recycling value chain for handling post-consumer waste in Global North.

Ø  STUDY 4 presents the case of a multi-national Swedish fashion retailer to pen down what capabilities are essential of an ecosystem leader or captain in orchestrating circular supply chains of post-consumer used clothes.

Ø  STUDY 5 initiates a mapping of multi-tiered textile recycling value chain in Global South by presenting the case of Panipat in India - world’s largest mechanical recycling hub.