The textile and apparel value chain is one of the most resource-intensive sectors, generating significant waste and relying heavily on a vulnerable workforce.
In recent years, businesses in this sector have adopted circular economy strategies to address sustainability challenges. However, most of these efforts focus on material efficiency and waste reduction, often neglecting social dimensions.
This PhD dissertation addresses this gap by exploring how to integrate social justice and equity into circular transitions at the business level. Through case studies in the Netherlands, Spain and India, it investigates how businesses can adopt circular practices inclusively and how policymakers can enable a more just circular transition.
The transition to a circular economy in the textile and apparel value chain is an opportunity to address the environmental challenges facing the industry. However, without a strong focus on social justice, this transition risks perpetuating poor working conditions, gender inequality and vulnerability for workers, particularly in low-wage, labour-intensive roles.
This policy brief identifies five key recommendations for policymakers:
Align circular economy goals with just transition principles
Identify and protect vulnerable populations
Address income disparity and strengthen labour regulations
Enhance participatory mechanisms and access to justice
Implement restorative mechanisms and support reskilling initiatives
The conference will explore how advanced AI tools and applications are accelerating the transition towards a circular and sustainable chemical and materials industry.
Fibenol transforms forestry and wood industry residues into sustainable biomaterials used in the biomaterials and biofuels, packaging, construction, and food, feed and pharmaceuticals industries.
The FertiCovery project focuses on nutrient recovery and the production of fertilisers from biowaste, manure and wastewater.
This workshop will bring together project partners and stakeholders to review, discuss and validate the final list of indicators which will serve as the basis for benchmarking nutrient recycling and biobased fertiliser production technologies.
REkrabička offers a returnable packaging system designed for restaurants, cafés and canteens. Their sturdy reusable food and drink containers can be used 400 times, replacing 400 single-use items.
Eco Bio® Croatia has developed an innovative biopolymer made from fruit and vegetable waste. It is an environmentally-friendly, non-toxic alternative to single-use flexible plastic which can be composted at home.
Cupffee cups are designed to replace single-use plastic and paper ones. They are made from plant-based material and using a zero-waste production process.
Brazil’s mining sector has underpinned national growth and is a major global supplier of iron ore, bauxite, niobium and copper. However, the linear model is producing declining ore grades, rising waste volumes and growing environmental and social pressures.
To remain competitive, Brazil must shift to a circular model. Strategies such as reprocessing tailings, recovering by-products, designing for reuse and establishing closed-loop partnerships can unlock significant economic and environmental value.
This report looks at circular solutions being implemented in the mining sector and how designing urban renewable energy systems for reuse will turn cities into urban mines.
Growingpaper's printed material is made using biodegradable inks on paper made from recycled paper or cotton waste - with flower seeds in it. Once you've finished with it, put it aside until spring then plant it and help biodiversity!
