Key Sustainability Concerns in Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles in the EU
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School of Business |
Bachelor's thesis
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Date
2023
Department
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Mcode
Degree programme
Tieto- ja palvelujohtaminen
Language
en
Pages
29+7
Series
Abstract
In July 2023, the European Commission proposed to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles to mitigate the negative environmental and social impacts of the sector. The purpose of this narrative literature review is to analyse the key sustainability concerns in the proposal by drawing from research on the existing EPR schemes, environmental and social issues in the textile industry, as well as significant barriers and drivers to circularity in the sector. This study found the key concerns to be related to the circular economy transition in the textile industry, the barriers and drivers of sustainable fashion, sustainability issues in the global used clothes trade, alternative fashion business models, challenges in the recycling of textiles, and influencing consumer behaviour. Practical suggestions to these include forming clearly defined regulations and setting the producer fees under the EPR scheme high enough to not only cover product end-of-life management costs but also incentivise circular practices and contribute adequately to research and development (R&D) funding. Areas in need of R&D initiatives include life cycle cost and impact assessment for textiles, particularly concerning clothing reuse, the fragmented global used clothes trade, textile recycling, alternative fashion business model innovation, and building consumer awareness on overconsumption. Moreover, the variables affecting the environmental and social impact of clothing reuse and recycling should be considered to avoid amplifying the current issues and more accurately reward businesses for sustainable practices. In addition, lowering the barriers and focusing on the drivers of sustainability for both businesses and consumers should be coupled with the EPR scheme to enable meaningful change in the textile industry.Description
Thesis advisor
Movarrei, RezaKeywords
extended producer responsibility, textile industry, circular economy, sustainable supply chain management