Textile Industry Waste Production: A Systematic Literature Review of Causal Factors, Environmental Impacts, and Reduction Strategies for Sustainable Manufacturing

Abstract

This narrative literature review examines textile industry waste production through critical analysis of environmental research from academic databases and industry repositories. The textile sector, although a significant contributor to the global economy, is also one of the most polluting industries, generating vast quantities of waste and consuming substantial energy resources. Waste generation from this sector has been largely due to the fast-changing fashion world, which promotes rapid production and consumer turnover of inexpensive, trendy garments, and overproduction, resulting in surplus inventory often discarded in landfills. It is also worth noting that the reliance on cheap labour facilitates mass production of disposable clothing, further increasing the amount of waste generated in the sector. Another factor that compounds the problem of managing the waste generated in the sector is inadequate regulation and high recycling costs, coupled with the use of synthetic fibres. In order to tackle these problems, this research highlights the importance of adopting clothing apparel that is both long-lasting and recyclable, encouraging slow fashion to promote high-quality, long-lasting clothes, and implementing textile recycling alongside closed-loop systems. It emphasizes the need to reduce overproduction, promote sustainable consumption habits, and increase energy efficiency throughout the production process through innovations in building design and transportation practices. These measures if adopted will allow the textile sector to create a manufacturing environment that promotes responsible resource management, thereby reducing environmental footprint and carbon emissions. The paper emphasizes that a concerted effort towards sustainable practices and policies is essential to foster an environmentally responsible textile industry that balances economic growth with ecological preservation.