Abstract

The textile industry has a significant role in the globalized market. However, this sector is responsible for extensive social and environmental impacts, that comprise unhealthy work conditions, huge pollution footprint, and intensive throw-away practices. Aiming to promote solutions to these problems, this paper traces the barriers and windows of opportunity for a transition to a circular economy, taking as an example the Brazilian textile and apparel industry. We examine the current Brazilian textile scenario using the multi-level perspective through three methodological approaches: desk research, workshops, and interviews. Our results indicate that, although the Brazilian textile industry still operates mainly in a linear way, focusing on competitiveness and short-term opportunities, there are great niche examples that are gaining traction and inspiring larger organizations, promoting innovative and circular ways to create and capture value. The socio-technical transition to a circular economy encompasses the identification and creation of conditions through windows of opportunity such as circular mindset, collaboration among stakeholders, education, investment, market forces, and public policies, which support process and technological changes in the textile and apparel industry. In summary, our research comprises the major challenges faced by the Brazilian textile industry in its current scenario and present enablers to endorse the shift towards a circular economy.

摘要

纺织业在全球化市场中扮演着重要角色。然而，该部门对广泛的社会和环境影响负有责任，其中包括不健康的工作条件、巨大的污染足迹和密集的丢弃行为。为了促进解决这些问题，本文以巴西纺织服装业为例，追溯了向循环经济转型的障碍和机遇之窗。我们通过三种方法论方法，使用多层次视角审视当前的巴西纺织情景：案头研究、研讨会和访谈。我们的结果表明，尽管巴西纺织业仍然主要以线性方式运作，注重竞争力和短期机会，有一些很好的利基例子正在获得牵引力并激励更大的组织，促进创新和循环方式来创造和获取价值。向循环经济的社会技术转型包括通过机会窗口识别和创造条件，例如循环思维、利益相关者之间的合作、教育、投资、市场力量和公共政策，这些都支持纺织和纺织行业的工艺和技术变革服装行业。总之，我们的研究包括巴西纺织业在当前情况下面临的主要挑战，以及目前支持向循环经济转变的推动因素。向循环经济的社会技术转型包括通过机会窗口识别和创造条件，例如循环思维、利益相关者之间的合作、教育、投资、市场力量和公共政策，这些都支持纺织和纺织行业的工艺和技术变革服装行业。总之，我们的研究包括巴西纺织业在当前情况下面临的主要挑战，以及目前支持向循环经济转变的推动因素。向循环经济的社会技术转型包括通过机会窗口识别和创造条件，例如循环思维、利益相关者之间的合作、教育、投资、市场力量和公共政策，这些都支持纺织和纺织行业的工艺和技术变革服装行业。总之，我们的研究包括巴西纺织业在当前情况下面临的主要挑战，以及目前支持向循环经济转变的推动因素。