Digital solutions are integral for scaling the circular economy in the apparel industry
Debabrata, Paul (2023)
Debabrata, Paul
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023121136174
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023121136174
Tiivistelmä
The global apparel industry has been criticized for a long time for its unsustainable practices, which damage the environment, create too much waste, and cause social inequality. In reaction to these problems, the idea of the circular economy has come up as a promising idea and scope. It emphasizes how important it is for the apparel industry to reduce, reuse, and recycle resources. Despite the fact that the Circular Economy (CE) offers a lot of change to the apparel industry, this research looks at how digital technologies like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), the Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can make it easier and faster for circular practices to be used in the manufacturing, distribution, consumption, and recycling of apparel.
This thesis shows through a thorough study of the literature, case studies, and empirical analysis that digital solutions could help to develop and solve some of the most important factors in circularity. It includes tracking, designing products with sustainable materials, optimizing the supply chain, recycling, and getting consumers involved. It also shows how digital technologies and circular strategies work together systematically, putting light on how these two can work together to make solutions that can be scaled up and are good for the environment. This study also shows how important it is to use digital technology practices and innovations by looking at the current state of the apparel industry and the problems it faces in becoming circular.
The thesis also talks about the social and environmental effects of using digital technology in the clothing business to support Circular Economy (CE) and sustainability. It ends with practical suggestions for people in the apparel business, policymakers, and researchers, with a focus on how important it is to use digital solutions as a way to grow the circular economy now and in the future. It also helps to look into how digital platforms and openness in the supply chain could be used to encourage circle practices. It looks at successful case studies and points out hurdles to adoption, giving ideas for how to get around these problems.
In the end, this thesis says that digital solutions are needed for the circular economy in the clothing business to reach its full potential. As the demand for clothes around the world continues to grow, the old linear model of the industry must be changed into a sustainable circular model. The results of this study not only show how important digital integration is but also give industry players, policymakers, and consumers a plan for how they can all work together to drive the change toward a more sustainable and circular apparel ecosystem.
This thesis shows through a thorough study of the literature, case studies, and empirical analysis that digital solutions could help to develop and solve some of the most important factors in circularity. It includes tracking, designing products with sustainable materials, optimizing the supply chain, recycling, and getting consumers involved. It also shows how digital technologies and circular strategies work together systematically, putting light on how these two can work together to make solutions that can be scaled up and are good for the environment. This study also shows how important it is to use digital technology practices and innovations by looking at the current state of the apparel industry and the problems it faces in becoming circular.
The thesis also talks about the social and environmental effects of using digital technology in the clothing business to support Circular Economy (CE) and sustainability. It ends with practical suggestions for people in the apparel business, policymakers, and researchers, with a focus on how important it is to use digital solutions as a way to grow the circular economy now and in the future. It also helps to look into how digital platforms and openness in the supply chain could be used to encourage circle practices. It looks at successful case studies and points out hurdles to adoption, giving ideas for how to get around these problems.
In the end, this thesis says that digital solutions are needed for the circular economy in the clothing business to reach its full potential. As the demand for clothes around the world continues to grow, the old linear model of the industry must be changed into a sustainable circular model. The results of this study not only show how important digital integration is but also give industry players, policymakers, and consumers a plan for how they can all work together to drive the change toward a more sustainable and circular apparel ecosystem.