Abstract
The textile and apparel supply chain plays an integral role in providing consumers with a continuous supply of apparel that must ultimately be discarded. Viewing the consumer as a player in the process between the supply chain and the post-consumer textile waste stream, this study was designed to explore the consumer apparel disposition process with an eye towards understanding how both supply chain members and post-consumer waste entities can interact with consumers to reduce the amount of apparel discarded in landfills. Hanson’s Consumer Product Disposition Process framework was used to help guide the research. Using a qualitative research approach, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-four female consumers in the United States to address three main research questions. The findings revealed several themes: use of both “compensatory” and “non-compensatory” choice heuristics in decision making; a “usable life” and the “personal nature” of garments as barriers to non-trash disposal options; and the need to “create awareness” and “provide assurance” to encourage alternative disposal modes. Implications for apparel producers and retailers, secondhand stores and textile recyclers are discussed.
Highlights
Textile waste in U.S landfills increased almost 40% (39.89%) between 1999 and 2009, and is expected to reach 35.4 billion pounds by 2019 [1]
Disposal stage directly relates to the impact of textile waste on the environment, increasing our understanding of the consumer apparel disposal process is essential in increasing sustainable practices over the apparel product life cycle
The disposition of clothing is an integral aspect of the clothing consumption process [4], and the use of trash during the disposal stage contributes to a less sustainable clothing life cycle
Summary
Textile waste in U.S landfills increased almost 40% (39.89%) between 1999 and 2009, and is expected to reach 35.4 billion pounds by 2019 [1]. As Ha-Brookshire and Hawley [3] indicate, the global clothing and textile supply chain is intricately linked with human clothing needs and wants, and human satisfaction for clothing. Addressing sustainability as it relates to apparel cannot just stop with consumer acquisition of apparel but must address all stages of the clothing consumption process [4] including disposition. Disposal stage directly relates to the impact of textile waste on the environment, increasing our understanding of the consumer apparel disposal process is essential in increasing sustainable practices over the apparel product life cycle
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