Mapping Digitalization and I4.0 tech. for Sustainability and CE in Textile Industries Literature

What is it about?

Fast fashion has one of the highest negative impacts on the environment. A huge amount of water and energy is consumed in all processes of raw material extraction, fiber manufacturing, weaving, dyeing, washing to the end of use, recycling and burning fibers and clothes waste. During the past decade, researchers and policy makers have discussed circular economy (CE) solutions and business models aiming to achieve sustainability goals. CE solutions have gained textile industries’, regulators’ and scholars’ attention as we are moving toward a digital world; many experts argued that Industry 4.0 technologies can accelerate the industrial transition toward circularity. Digital technologies help transfer real-time material and product condition, availability, accessibility and resources data and boost the CE transition in textiles and apparel industries. Product design development, product prototyping and recycling the materials can be done with higher efficiency by utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies. The authors conducted a mapping study of the current academic literature on digitalization-based solutions and revolution in textile industries toward a circular economy. The study looked for publications articulating different implementations of digital technologies in the circularity of the textile industry. A huge gap was found in academic literature in need of further investigation and research to support the topic.

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Photo by Susan Q Yin on Unsplash

Photo by Susan Q Yin on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Fast fashion has highly negative impacts on the environment. A huge amount of water and energy is consumed. Digital technologies help transfer real-time material and product condition, availability, accessibility and resources data and boost the CE transition in textiles and apparel industries. Product design development, product prototyping and recycling the materials can be done with higher efficiency by utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies. The authors conducted a mapping study of the current academic literature on digitalization-based solutions and revolution in textile industries toward a circular economy. A huge gap was found in academic literature in need of further investigation and research to support the topic.