Purpose

The textile and fashion industry currently undergoes a shift towards more circular practices, and post consumer used textiles are increasingly brought into circular flows typically including reuse, resell and repair. To decrease the share of landfill and incineration, large-scale textile-to-textile recycling practices need to be developed as a complement to these reuse-alternatives. The purpose of this study is to explore supply chain capabilities required in the textile-to-textile recycling supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an action research approach, empirical data to this study has been collected at a large fashion retailer, currently involved in a pilot project aimed at understanding the end-to-end, fibre-to-fibre recycling supply chain practices and its involved stakeholders.

Findings

Three major supply chain capabilities were identified: standardisation of products, managing inventories, and designing supply chains. Their content and importance are elaborated in the context of the textile-to-textile recycling supply chain, which is characterised by rapidly increasing volumes, consumer requirements, and technology developments.

Research limitations/implications

Recent technology developments such as chemical fibre-to-fibre recycling and automated textile sorting are currently accelerating the development of new circular supply chains of low-value textile waste. Supply chain capabilities are imperative for efficient and effective logistics operations in these supply chains.

Original/value

In contrast to circular business models focused on reuse-alternatives, the textile-to-textile recycling supply chain is much less explored, despite it is anticipated to play a major role in a future, more circular, textile and fashion industry.