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

Rosie Hornbuckle (), Kate Goldsworthy and Laura Knight
Additional contact information
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

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-20

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.

Keywords: polyester; circular economy; circular design; textile design; regenerative recycling; recycling technologies; synthetic fibres; plastics; multistakeholder; co-design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/12/9843/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/12/9843/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9843-:d:1175454

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().