scholarly journals Is the Transition to Bioeconomy a Sustainable Solution in Fast-fashion Industry, Considering the Overconsumption? - Premises for Future Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-44
Author(s):  
Raluca Ciornea
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Global Population

Abstract The main objective of the paper is to inquire if bioeconomy is a “saving” sustainable solution to major problems caused by fast-fashion industry - consumption of non-renewable and scarce natural resources, waste generation, pollution - in the actual conditions of overconsumption and consumption intensification due to accelerated increase of global population. A closer look reveals that not only that fast-fashion industry is not bridging the gap to sustainability, but also that its transit to bioeconomy (which is the main alternative proposed by global organisms to increase sustainability) may deepen the global issues wanted to be solved, if the current business models are maintained. Insides evidence that individual overconsumption outpaces the fast-fashion industry’s efforts to create a sustainable bio-economic system, thus is imperative to redesign the business models to use less important natural resources and to reduce the environmental impact, while in parallel discourage the overconsumption. Consequently, fast-fashion business models need to have a sustainable holistic approach and incorporate sustainable measures, which are able to shift the consumer behaviour from overconsumption to sustainable choices, in their marketing objectives, strategies and actions. Based on the findings, premises for future research were proposed.

scholarly journals Sharing Economy and Fast Fashion (Sustainability and virtual consumer behavior: A review and research agenda)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramon Ruiz Navarro ◽  
Carolina Hintzmann ◽  
August Corrons
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behavior ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Holistic Understanding

<p>The main objective of this work, through a literature review, is to contextualize the importance of fashion consumer behavior towards a more sustainable economy, emphasizing the sharing economy as an alternative to fast fashion through virtual networks, and therefore also highlights the use that consumers make of new technologies (social networks, mobile applications, or collaborative platforms). The specific objectives are none other than showing the need to contribute to the reduction of pollution, damage to the environment and the overconsumption of natural resources (water, energy, or materials) involved in the manufacture of clothing. All this linked to consumer behavior, innovation, electronic commerce, the sharing economy, and the entrepreneurship of the social and solidarity economy. It is for this reason that this work is approached from a perspective that can help to promote the exchange of fashion, examining the antecedents of the intention of consumers to participate in virtual fashion networks.</p> <p>The consolidation of the sharing economy in the fashion industry could offer social, economic, and environmental benefits, so this research also wants to highlight the convenience of identifying and analyzing the different beliefs of people with similar behaviors using this type of virtual fashion networks and platforms, and that, due to the confinement of COVID-19, seems to have increased exponentially.</p> <p>The value that is provided is to establish a common framework for discussion, within which the research has been carried out, since there is still much to analyze about consumer behavior in this context, and therefore the future of research in this area must bring together social, economic, and technological research to provide a more holistic understanding.</p> <p>It is desirable that sustainability and the need for more sustainable consumption are a motivating influence for future research on the sharing economy related to fast fashion and virtual consumer behavior.</p>

scholarly journals Sustainability Route for Industry 4.0: The Future of Global Circular Economic Transition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smitha Chandran Sreedevi ◽  
Razim Mohammed Salahudeen
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Economic Practices ◽  
Circular System ◽  
Global Population

The traditional linear models have proved to be ineffective in perspective of the limited resources of the earth and there is an intensifying stress on the resource side due to the ever-rising global population. Moreover, this results in the unsustainable and inefficient consumption of natural resources, increasing costs of commodities and volatility in the markets, which are unaffordable for the manufacturing base of our economy. The current business models based on the traditional economic policies are not only blindly followed globally but they also neglect the organizational specifics. The circular economy or closed-loop economy is an approach in which the waste or residuals from an industry can be used as raw material for another industry there by reducing the demand on earth’s natural resources. The expected ultimate goal of this circular system is the reduction of gap between the organizational characteristics like profitability, organizational structure and decision making policies, market position and the adoption of circular economic practices.

Spirals, spikes and spinning wheels: Temporal models challenging the sustainability agenda in relation to fast fashion consumption

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Powell
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Political Arena ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Use Of Time ◽  
Temporal Models ◽  
Point Of Purchase ◽  
Achievable Goal

Fast fashion has entered the political arena with specific reference to sustainability. To date the agenda has largely been informed by an examination of production methodologies and techniques documenting the rapid turnover of trends, the speed and efficiency of the production process and the lack of socially cohesive labour practices that it consistently engenders. Whilst governments seek to raise awareness and begin to generate initiatives to tackle the environmental fall out of fast fashion, this article turns its attention to the temporal patterns of consumer behaviour and why such a high percentage of what we buy is readily discarded soon after point of purchase. All stages in this linear model of consumption, it is argued, are shaped by a very specific relationship to time that ultimately informs our buying habits. Utilizing the work of the philosopher A. N. Whitehead and adopting a more psychosocial approach to fashion consumption, this article recognizes that even when purposefully seeking to consume sustainably, a greater need to align our use of time with a results-driven mindset locates the acquisition of something new as a highly achievable goal. As a consequence, rather than positioning the rationale for fashion purchases in the context of conspicuous consumption and emulation, here it functions to mitigate a lack of temporal control in other areas of our lives. In response, it is proposed that any successful attempts at tackling the problems associated with fast fashion must also seek to understand the temporal dynamics of consumption. For whilst governments’ attention is turned to ways to reduce the environmental impact associated with the production of clothing, increasing consumer demand derived from ‘neophilia’ will negate and indeed overturn any successes achieved. The conclusion will therefore suggest that promotional culture has a duty to explore ways in which it might engender greater emotional attachments to what we own. Future research into brand messaging, exploring the consequences of placing emphasis on quality over quantity and a subsequent potential deepening of a sense of brand loyalty, is also recommended as a way forward.

scholarly journals The New Consumer Behaviour Paradigm amid COVID-19: Permanent or Transient?

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seema Mehta ◽  
Tanjul Saxena ◽  
Neetu Purohit
Keyword(s):  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Market Segment ◽  
Critical Situation ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Market Competitiveness ◽  
New Consumer

A critical situation pushes human behaviour towards different directions with some aspects of behaviour being irrevocable. COVID-19 pandemic is not a normal crisis, and to control the spread of disease various measures were taken including complete and then partial lockdown. Since all elements of the economy are intricately interrelated with public health measures and lockdown, this resulted in economic instabilities of the nations hinting towards change in market dynamics. In every market, consumers are the drivers of the market competitiveness, growth and economic integration. With economic instability, consumers are also experiencing a transformation in behaviour, though how much of transformation experienced during the crisis will sustain is a question. This article looks at the consumer behaviour during COVID-19 crisis and in the subsequent lockdown period when the world stood still for more than a quarter of a year. Further, the article attempts to weave through the maze of literature available about consumer behaviour in normal times and in crisis times, strengthens it with the rapid assessment reports culled out by the different consulting organisations during lockdown phase, substantiates the same with first-hand telling and retelling of experiences by consumers and professionals with marketing background to bring up a hypothesis of the pandemic affecting a paradigm shift from consumer materialism to consumer spiritualism. The proposition offers further testable hypotheses for future research to understand consumer sentiments or requirement in buying ‘what is enough’ within the marketing context and how it can be reinforced post-COVID crisis for ensuring sustainability of business models. It would also be interesting to explore the correlates of this forced consumer behaviour with other variables such as learning from crisis, changing needs, personality, nationality, culture, new market segment and age to develop new models of consumer behaviour.

scholarly journals Sharing Economy and Fast Fashion (Sustainability and virtual consumer behavior: A review and research agenda)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramon Ruiz Navarro ◽  
Carolina Hintzmann ◽  
August Corrons
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behavior ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Holistic Understanding

<p>The main objective of this work, through a literature review, is to contextualize the importance of fashion consumer behavior towards a more sustainable economy, emphasizing the sharing economy as an alternative to fast fashion through virtual networks, and therefore also highlights the use that consumers make of new technologies (social networks, mobile applications, or collaborative platforms). The specific objectives are none other than showing the need to contribute to the reduction of pollution, damage to the environment and the overconsumption of natural resources (water, energy, or materials) involved in the manufacture of clothing. All this linked to consumer behavior, innovation, electronic commerce, the sharing economy, and the entrepreneurship of the social and solidarity economy. It is for this reason that this work is approached from a perspective that can help to promote the exchange of fashion, examining the antecedents of the intention of consumers to participate in virtual fashion networks.</p> <p>The consolidation of the sharing economy in the fashion industry could offer social, economic, and environmental benefits, so this research also wants to highlight the convenience of identifying and analyzing the different beliefs of people with similar behaviors using this type of virtual fashion networks and platforms, and that, due to the confinement of COVID-19, seems to have increased exponentially.</p> <p>The value that is provided is to establish a common framework for discussion, within which the research has been carried out, since there is still much to analyze about consumer behavior in this context, and therefore the future of research in this area must bring together social, economic, and technological research to provide a more holistic understanding.</p> <p>It is desirable that sustainability and the need for more sustainable consumption are a motivating influence for future research on the sharing economy related to fast fashion and virtual consumer behavior.</p>

Achieving Sustainability through Zero Waste Fashion-A Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 154-162
Author(s):  
Lotika Gupta ◽  
Harminder Kaur Saini
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Zero Waste ◽  
Fashion Magazines ◽  
Waste Policy ◽  
Sustainability Movement

Fashion industry encompasses every stage of production, starting from production of fibres, fabric, designing, production and sale of garments. Fashion industry holds second place among the pollution causing industries. This industry has an enormous impact on the environment as well as on the millions of people working in it. During the course of production of garments, a substantial amount of waste is generated. Solid waste, thus produced is sent to landfills, where it decomposes and leads to production of methane gas. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that traps atmospheric heat more effectively than the most common greenhouse gas—carbon dioxide. The solid waste contributes significantly to the existing problem of global warming. The increase in population and increased consumption of products in the developed world has started the global waste problem. Fast fashion provides the marketplace with affordable apparel. Fashion magazines create the desire for new “must-haves” for each season. But fast fashion has its side effects in the form of pollution footprint. The rate at which the clothing waste is generated is far more than its rate of decomposition. Millions of tons of clothing waste is dumped in landfills, which may take between one to five months to fully biodegrade, with the condition that the waste comprises only of organic cotton fabrics. The waste generated is a mixture of natural as well as synthetic fibre, with 20 to 200 years of decomposition time. Each chemical treatment elongates its biodegradation time. A viable solution to this problem may be the adoption of every technique resulting in lower waste generation. Zero waste Fashion may be a step towards achievement of sustainability. A Zero waste policy must be adopted to identify inefficiencies in the use of inputs like raw materials, power and workforce. Zero waste policy supports every phase of the sustainability movement. This paper is centered on the main causes of waste generation in garment industry and the Zero waste generation techniques of garment production and other means of waste reduction which can be adopted to make the fashion industry sustainable.

scholarly journals Can Fashion Be Circular? A Literature Review on Circular Economy Barriers, Drivers, and Practices in the Fashion Industry’s Productive Chain

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 12246
Author(s):  
Andreza de Aguiar Hugo ◽  
Jeniffer de Nadae ◽  
Renato da Silva Lima
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Environmentally Conscious ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Ecological Problems

Circular economy (CE) principles have gained prominence in the fashion industry since it is a highly polluting industry and requires sustainable changes. Even though there are several CE initiatives already in place within the fashion production chain, changes towards CE are still slow. This study seeks to identify the drivers, barriers, and practices that influence implementing circular economy concepts in the fashion industry production chain using a systematic literature review. The results show that some more barriers and criteria keep consumers away from circular fashion concepts than drivers. These barriers include fast fashion consumer culture, even though more consumers are environmentally conscious. This is because awareness has not reached large-scale populations, despite the world being more aware of social and environmental issues. Consumers still do not see ethical and ecological problems associated with the fashion industry and continue to be targeted for large fast fashion retailers that sell a misguided version of consumerism. This study contributes to both academia and new fashion business models that seek to become more sustainable since it presents opportunities for investments and the obstacles that must be overcome for reaching CE within this sector.

Collaborative fashion consumption – drivers, barriers and future pathways

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Becker-Leifhold ◽  
Samira Iran
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Negative Impacts

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the existing literature on CFC together with its relative concepts and discuss the current state of knowledge in the field of alternative apparel consumption. Drivers, barriers and future pathways of CFC – from the business and consumer’s perspective – are extracted, summarized and discussed. By using a holistic approach, this study aims to demonstrate the linkages and interplays among the actors. Helpful implications for the industry and policy makers are derived.Design/methodology/approachA holistic systematic literature review was conducted. More than 2,800 journal articles were reviewed for this conceptual paper, and the ones meeting the search criteria were subjected to a qualitative content analysis.FindingsThe findings facilitate a better understanding of what enables or prevents CFC from becoming a mainstream consumption approach. The study also examines the sustainability aspects of CFC, discussing both the positive environmental benefits and its negative impacts.Practical implicationsThe results of this study can help businesses, governments and institutions develop more efficient strategies toward promoting sustainability in the fashion industry. Understanding the drivers and barriers of CFC, in addition to the possible sustainability benefits of CFC, can facilitate and accelerate adoption of future business models of CFC.Originality/valueCFC is a relatively new concept in the field of academic research. In fact, this study is among the first to explore the interplay of drivers and barriers from both the consumer and industry perspectives. This paper can support further academic and business efforts aimed at promoting CFC.

Ethical Issues in the Fast Fashion Industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 660-665
Author(s):  
Chi Sheh ◽  
◽  
Peng Chan ◽  
Wen Jun Sim ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Real Cost ◽  
Literature Reviews

Fast fashion is becoming more and more popular nowadays and this industry is growing rapidly. In order to supply to the big demand of fast fashion clothing, company will need to increase the production of the clothing in shorter time frame. Besides that, to out beat the competitor, company will provide more choices of clothing in cheaper price to the customers. By practicing these actions to increase the business profits, company is behaving unethical to the manufacturer of the cloth. Most consumers are not aware of these ethical issues. This paper is will used and tested the conceptual model of fast fashion business ethics based on literature reviews. The finding from this paper will manifest the “real cost” of a cheap and branded fast fashion clothing and will be supported by real life event that happened. However, after realizing the problems, some company did make some changes and the solutions are stated in the paper as well.

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