IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i17p7868-d1739377.html

Assessing the Social and Environmental Impact of a Clothing Reuse Business Model: The Case of Circular Thrift—An Innovative, Community-Based Startup

Author

Listed:
  • Iva Jestratijevic

    (Merchandising and Digital Retailing Department, College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA)

  • Ragul Senthil

    (Hospitality & Retail Management, Texas Tech University, 1301 Akron Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA)

Abstract

To contribute to the emerging knowledge on the sustainability impacts of small, circular clothing reuse businesses in the US, we employed a case study research methodology to empirically test the case of Circular Thrift, an innovative, community-based startup business model with potential to create a circular fashion ecosystem on the firm level. Primary data on circular activities were collected on site within the first year of business operation. The Life Cycle Assessment methodology was conducted to assess environmental impact avoidance. The social impact of reused products was assessed to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits of born circular business models. Tangible environmental benefits accounted for the collection of 10,772 apparel units and resulted in the diversion of 2311.05 kg (approximately 5095 pounds) of clothing from the local landfill. Social impact accounted for 45.86% of the collected items that were given back to the local community. Empirical testing of the environmental benefits of a Circular Thrift business model makes a strong case for scaling up reusable efforts as a means to address post-consumer textile waste at the local community level within the US, where formal and government-regulated resource collection and recovery systems still do not exist.

Suggested Citation

  • Iva Jestratijevic & Ragul Senthil, 2025. "Assessing the Social and Environmental Impact of a Clothing Reuse Business Model: The Case of Circular Thrift—An Innovative, Community-Based Startup," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7868-:d:1739377
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7868/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7868/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alejandro Padilla-Rivera & Sara Russo-Garrido & Nicolas Merveille, 2020. "Addressing the Social Aspects of a Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Marie Briguglio & Leandro J. Llorente-González & Christopher Meilak & Ángeles Pereira & Jonathan Spiteri & Xavier Vence, 2021. "Born or Grown: Enablers and Barriers to Circular Business in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Ingun Grimstad Klepp & Kirsi Laitala & Stephen Wiedemann, 2020. "Clothing Lifespans: What Should Be Measured and How," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Karra Sillaman, Neri & de Colle, Simone, 2024. "Four core competencies toward the circular economy: Insights from a born-sustainable firm," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    5. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    6. Mateusz Lewandowski, 2016. "Designing the Business Models for Circular Economy—Towards the Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-28, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Castro-Lopez, Adrian & Iglesias, Victor & Santos-Vijande, María Leticia, 2023. "Organizational capabilities and institutional pressures in the adoption of circular economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    2. Sabina Scarpellini, 2022. "Social impacts of a circular business model: An approach from a sustainability accounting and reporting perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 646-656, May.
    3. Katherine Mansilla-Obando & Fabiola Jeldes-Delgado & Nataly Guiñez-Cabrera, 2022. "Circular Economy Strategies with Social Implications: Findings from a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Animesh Ghosh & Prabha Bhola & Uthayasankar Sivarajah, 2022. "Emerging Associates of the Circular Economy: Analysing Interactions and Trends by a Mixed Methods Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-41, August.
    5. Losa, Riccardo, 2025. "Public policies on circular economy: A systematic review," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    6. Wim Van Opstal & Lize Borms, 2024. "Work integration ambitions of startups in the circular economy," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(2), pages 477-504, June.
    7. Pina Puntillo, 2023. "Circular economy business models: Towards achieving sustainable development goals in the waste management sector—Empirical evidence and theoretical implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 941-954, March.
    8. Pedro Antonio Martín-Cervantes & Parisa Ziarati & Pablo de Frutos Madrazo & Iza Gigauri, 2025. "Digital Marketing as a Driver of Change Towards the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-24, June.
    9. Ilaha Abasli & Farhad Mukhtarov, 2025. "Old Habits Die Hard: How Narratives on Social Aspects of Circular Economy (Re)Produce Global Inequalities," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 1219-1244, April.
    10. Joanicjusz Nazarko & Ewa Chodakowska & Łukasz Nazarko, 2022. "Evaluating the Transition of the European Union Member States towards a Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, May.
    11. Caroline Samberger & Sanaz Imen & Katerina Messologitis & Arthur Umble & Joseph G. Jacangelo, 2024. "Assessing circularity of wastewater treatment systems: A critical review of indicators," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(2), pages 262-276, April.
    12. Natasja Börjeson & Marlene Ågerstrand, 2025. "“The Problems that we have Today, are Yesterday’s Solutions”: Enabling Circular Non-toxic Supply Chains," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 2273-2293, June.
    13. Chembessi Chedrak & Gohoungodji Paulin & Juste Rajaonson, 2023. "“A fine wine, better with age”: Circular economy historical roots and influential publications: A bibliometric analysis using Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS)," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1593-1612, December.
    14. Wang, Yan & Yang, Tianxiao & Liu, Zhaomin & Chi, Zhong & Lu, Lili, 2024. "Combining natural resources to drive technology and efficiency for a greener economic recovery," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    15. Iniobong Beauty John & Samuel A. Adekunle & Clinton O. Aigbavboa, 2023. "Adoption of Circular Economy by Construction Industry SMEs: Organisational Growth Transition Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, March.
    16. Kang Liu, 2025. "Contested circular economy and mixed social implications from practice: A scoping review," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 2154-2170, April.
    17. Gilbert Silvius & Aydan Ismayilova & Vicente Sales-Vivó & Micol Costi, 2021. "Exploring Barriers for Circularity in the EU Furniture Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-25, October.
    18. Gabi Försterling & Ronald Orth & Benjamin Gellert, 2023. "Transition to a Circular Economy in Europe through New Business Models: Barriers, Drivers, and Policy Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-40, May.
    19. Nicolas Haber & Mario Fargnoli, 2022. "Product-Service Systems for Circular Supply Chain Management: A Functional Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-19, November.
    20. Lucas Becerra & Sebastián Carenzo & Paula Juarez, 2020. "When Circular Economy Meets Inclusive Development. Insights from Urban Recycling and Rural Water Access in Argentina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-21, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7868-:d:1739377. 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.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with 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 The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (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.