Circular economy practices in the textile industry for sustainable future: A systematic literature review

The textile industry represents one of the largest sectors at the global level and is expected to reach a business turnover of 2.25 trillion US$ by 2025. To accommodate increasing consumer awareness, sustainable production models have been introduced in the textile industry, gaining some degree of popularity. The present review aims at the functioning of circular economy (CE) practices in the textile and clothing sector. In this systematic literature review, 212 research items were identified that have been published on the topic from 2003 to 2023. The results show that the type of technology, scope of work, and supply chain structure have a moderate to big impact on the implementation of CE practices and its sustainable performance in the industry. The results also show that implementing CE could be a game changer in improving the environmental performance of the industry which has been facing ecological issues in the past. This review also highlights the drivers, barriers, and indicators of sustainable performance of the textile industry while implementing CE practices and suggests what core research areas could be in the future. The findings of this research can facilitate academic researchers, industrial managers, and policymakers in implementing CE practices in the textile industry for a better and sustainable future.