Introdução
Population growth drives consumption to levels that threaten available resources (Dursun; Ulker; Gunalay, 2023). Consequently, the textile industry stands out for its economic relevance, producing 100 billion pieces globally, of which 33% are discarded within the first year of use (Monash University, 2021). In Brazil, the textile industry is the second largest employer within the manufacturing sector (1.36 million direct jobs) and one of the four largest global producers (ABIT, 2024).
Problema de Pesquisa e Objetivo
Adapting to sustainable standards is essential, and the transition to circular models requires technological innovation and supply chain integration (Jena; Sarmah, 2014). The Reverse Supply Chain (RSC) is a strategic mechanism for reintegrating waste into the production cycle, demanding a systemic and competitive approach (Das; Posinasetti, 2015; Elia; Gnoni, 2015). Accordingly, this study aims to assess the degree of development of the textile RSC in Brazil, based on a previously established theoretical framework.
Fundamentação Teórica
The textile industry must align itself with Sustainable Development (SD) and the Circular Economy (CE), which seeks to keep materials in circulation through maintenance, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling while addressing challenges such as waste, pollution, and the use of finite resources. However, SC research still tends to privilege tangible processes and gives little recognition to the role of relationships in advancing sustainability (Ashby et al., 2012).
Metodologia
To achieve the proposed objective, the study considered a literature survey on stakeholders, activities and practices (operational and strategic), supporting strategies, technologies, concepts, principles, and circularity guidelines that influence the RSC. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted following Tranfield et al. (2003), based on the SLR, and with the purpose of assessing the development level of the textile RSC in Brazil, a multi-case analysis of Reverse Logistics (RL) initiatives with publicly available information focused on the textile industry was also carried out.
Análise e Discussão dos Resultados
In the multi-case analysis, five real-world contexts were examined: three large retailers and two companies that use textile waste as an input. This analysis allowed for the assessment of alignment between the literature and the practice of the textile RSC in Brazil, as well as the identification of gaps. The multi-case analysis confirmed the centrality of the Consumer, who is present in all programs analyzed; retailers frequently offer discounts or incentives to encourage their participation. As for Recyclers, they are also central stakeholders, enabling the closing of the loop by.
Considerações Finais
The multi-case analysis validated 8 out of 16 stakeholders and 15 out of 54 RSC components identified. Although the Brazilian textile RSC includes key stakeholders, its scope proved limited compared to what was reported in the literature. The identification of only 27.8% of the other components reveals technological and knowledge gaps, confirming the Brazilian State of Practice remains far from the State of the Art (Literature).
Referências
ABDALLAH, A. B.; RAY, S.; MIM, S. J.; MAHMUD, T. S.; RICHTER, A.; NG, K. T. W., 2024. Assessment of demographics and motivations of post-consumer textile waste management using a bibliometric approach. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, v. 26 (4), 2534-2545. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10163-024-01994-8.
ASHBY, A., 2018. Developing closed loop supply chains for environmental sustainability: Insights from a UK clothing case study. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, v. 29 (4), 699-722. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-12-2016-0175.