This book investigates the nature of the European textile and clothing industry, focusing on the relationship between sustainability practices, the transition to the circular economy and the deployment of digital technologies. It provides a profile of the industry in a range of European countries, allowing comparisons and contrasts, and the formulation of recommendations for future change and development. A mainly inductive, qualitative research approach is used, in which both secondary sources and primary interview and survey material are analysed to address key research questions, and support the development of a model for the assessment of companies in their transition to the circular economy, incorporating both upstream and downstream activities in the extended supply chain. The book will be of value to undergraduate and postgraduate students in environmental and computer technology disciplines, and to professionals and practitioners in the textile and clothing industry.

This book investigates the nature of the European textile and clothing industry, focusing on the relationship between sustainability practices, the transition to the circular economy and the deployment of digital technologies. It provides a profile of the industry in a range of European countries, allowing comparisons and contrasts, and the formulation of recommendations for future change and development. A mainly inductive, qualitative research approach is used, in which both secondary sources and primary interview and survey material are analysed to address key research questions, and support the development of a model for the assessment of companies in their transition to the circular economy, incorporating both upstream and downstream activities in the extended supply chain. The book will be of value to undergraduate and postgraduate students in environmental and computer technology disciplines, and to professionals and practitioners in the textile and clothing industry.