Attitudes towards managing post-industrial apparel cuttings waste

Abstract

By its origin, textile waste can be divided in two broad categories: post-consumer waste and post-industrial waste generated during the manufacturing process. The division of the clothing supply chain between developed consumer markets and developing countries where apparel production capacities are outsourced implies that post-consumer waste is present in the former countries, whereas the later generates more post-industrial waste. The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine how the attitudes of top management towards managing apparel cuttings waste influence their willingness to introduce apparel waste sorting. The proclivity to sort apparel cuttings was strongly influenced by two key factors – the ease and costs of introducing sorting operations and impediments to sorting such as lack of workforce, technology or market. Combining these two factors leads towards negative attitudes to introducing apparel sorting. Perception of impediments in the process of sorting leads towards negative attitudes regarding the ease of introducing sorting operations; however, it does not influence adversely the proclivity to sort.