Study level

  • PhD

Faculty/School

Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Design Lab

Supervisors

Associate Professor Tiziana Ferrero-Regis
Position
Associate Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of CI, Education & Social Justice

Overview

The textile industry is one of the world’s largest, with global sales in 2016 of USD 1.5 trillion. It is also one of the most polluting industries, producing 20% of global wastewater, and contributing to 10% of carbon emissions. Fashion generates large amounts of waste, and has negative social and health impacts for workers.

According to the European Community Action Plan (ECAP 2019), sustainable procurement has the potential to transform the fashion and textile industry acting as a driver for local manufacturing.

Uniforms and workwear procurement has partially remained in the shadow, however, it plays an important role in local and national manufacturing. Like fashion, uniform procurement must be sustainable and circular to ensure that transparency is addressed at every stage of the supply chain.

Circular economy would address these issues, keep clothes and textiles at their highest value and keep clothes in continuous circulation. The transformation of the sector requires a systemic approach and collaboration across the entire supply chain.

The project focusses on investigating strategies and a road map to achieve circularity  in procurement, to ensure that uniforms and workwear are sustainable and transparent.

This study requires a systemic approach to build a strategy that addresses  and achieves the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development.

The research project has the potential to partner with local stakeholders and to undertake an industry internship.

Outcomes

The purpose of this interdisciplinary research is to explore a pathway to sustainable procurement for uniforms. It must examine alternative textiles, design for function and aesthetics, manufacturers and waste management to establish full circularity by 2030.

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Contact

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