Theoretical framework of the textile industry’s reverse supply chain

Abstract

Population growth has increased consumption rates to levels that threaten the availability of natural resources, affecting all sectors— including the textile industry, which accounts for approximately 80 billion new clothing items consumed globally each year and a production volume of 100 billion garments annually, of which 33% are discarded within the first year of purchase. In Brazil, textile waste generation amounts to approximately 170 thousand tons per year, drawing significant attention to the waste produced by this industry. Thus, this study maps the literature on the stakeholders involved in the textile industry’s reverse supply chain (RSC) and identifies sustainable practices that strengthen this process. The aim is to propose a framework that represents this part of the textile supply chain. The analysis identified and categorized 82 stakeholders into 24 categories, 16 of which focused on RSC, highlighting their roles, interrelationships, and impacts on RSC effectiveness. The research also identified 97 RSC additional components, mostly focused on recycling materials and manufacturing new products. The results indicate that collaboration among stakeholders is essential to boost the circular economy (CE) in the sector, although challenges such as a lack of financial incentives, inadequate regulation, and low consumer awareness still hinder the expansion of this system. The main contributions include structuring RSC, identifying stakeholders, and providing a framework based on the state of the art. The study reinforces the importance of developing public and business policies to consolidate a more sustainable textile sector.