IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i12p9843-d1175454.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Systemic Material Innovation Study of the Current State and Future Possibilities for Circular Polyester

Author

Listed:
  • Rosie Hornbuckle

    (Centre for Circular Design, University of the Arts London, London SW1P 4JU, UK)

  • Kate Goldsworthy

    (Centre for Circular Design, University of the Arts London, London SW1P 4JU, UK)

  • Laura Knight

    (Centre for Circular Design, University of the Arts London, London SW1P 4JU, UK)

Abstract

This paper focuses on the current state and future potential of the most prevalent synthetic fibre, polyester, as a circular textile. The aim is to reveal areas for intervention in the current system that might lead the transition to circular polyester in the future. A qualitative Systemic Material Innovation (SMI) study was undertaken to reveal barriers and opportunities to achieving circular polyester from a holistic perspective. Interviews were conducted with 20 industry experts, including co-designing NOW and FUTURE eco-system maps for circular polyester, and a roadmap for transition. Analysis and synthesis of the data revealed that ‘design for reuse and recycling’ is seen as central to realising circular polyester, in particular replacing elastane and ‘fleece’. Inaction by brands, the lack of granular post-use data, appropriate collection practices, and the low-cost of conventional polyester were also highlighted as barriers. Improved understanding of the life cycle impacts and actions amongst all stakeholders was seen as a key opportunity that might be leveraged through dialogue with other stakeholders. Six actions for industry and research are recommended. Data visualisation is used to translate the findings and operationalise the findings for a broad range of stakeholders in the polyester eco-system.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosie Hornbuckle & Kate Goldsworthy & Laura Knight, 2023. "A Systemic Material Innovation Study of the Current State and Future Possibilities for Circular Polyester," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9843-:d:1175454
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/12/9843/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/12/9843/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9843-:d:1175454. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.