Even though fashion brands advocate for green initiatives, a recent study emphasizes the serious difficulties that environmentally conscious consumers encounter as a result of regional restrictions on clothing return policies. The findings of the study indicate that although an increasing number of businesses are adopting circular economy strategies, like recycling and repair services, the success of these initiatives is frequently limited by the location of the client.
The University of Birmingham, in partnership with the University of Bristol and two American universities, Buffalo State University and the University of Georgia, has released new research that looks at the geographic influences on these initiatives in the activewear industry. The results, which were published in the Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, show that these "Waste Reduction Networks" are highly successful when it comes to location.
Fast fashion is a major contributor to waste in the fashion industry, which is one of the biggest polluters in the world. Less than half of used clothing is gathered for recycling or reuse, and only 1% of it is recycled into new clothing, according to the European Parliament. Some businesses have started programs to increase the lifespan of clothing, such as trade-in and repair services, in response to growing awareness of the environmental impact.