Life cycle perspective in the textile supply chain: Analysis of Improvement Practices

Textile manufacturing is characterized by consumption models based on low-cost fast fashion, rather than on a durable good idea. For this reason, it has become one of the sectors with the highest environmental impacts. The aim of this study is to reveal environmental impacts along the textile supply chain, based on a life cycle perspective to improve resources and waste management. This study presents a systematic literature review, performed through ISI Web of Knowledge database, with the keywords: ("supply chain" OR "supply chains") AND (lca OR "life cycle assessment" OR "carbon footprint" OR “life cycle”) AND (circular* OR clos* OR loop* OR recycle* OR recover*) AND (textile* OR apparel OR cloth* OR garment OR fashion) and leading to 57 articles. The articles were selected to include only those with a circular supply chain vision. At the end of this step, 30 articles were obtained, which were further analyzed. The research focused on the identification of the phases with a more impact, between production, distribution, use and end of life, and on possible reduction solutions in terms of circularity. From the results, the diversity and complexities of the entire system emerge and most of the impacts are relative to production and raw materials, followed by transport and final disposal. Further studies are necessary to improve data collection along the supply chains in order to apply strategies aimed at reducing environmental impacts. Furthermore, a change is necessary, both in consumption habits and in a complete vision of the practices along the supply chain.