Sustainable fashion: Mapping waste streams and life cycle management

Abstract

The fashion supply chain is a major contributor to global waste generation, with significant environmental and social implications. Addressing waste management challenges in this sector is crucial to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, this paper proposes an integrated approach for modeling sustainable waste flow management in the fashion supply chain and consequently contributes to reducing the associated environmental impact. Firstly, Waste Flow Mapping (WFM) assessment is used to identify waste production at each stage of the fashion supply chain. Secondly, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to quantify environmental impact on resource consumption, waste generation, energy usage, and emissions. Finally, performance metrics and sustainability reporting are established to monitor and track environmental performance. Results show: i) a 25–30% reduction in environmental impacts across product life cycles, ii) a 20–25% improvement in resource efficiency iii) an increase of 15–20% in product's life extensions, and iv) approximately 40–50% of materials can be originated from recycled sources. The model represents a valuable tool for managers to define company strategies from the twin transition (green and digital) perspective.