The circularity of textile waste : A systematic literature review on environmental methodologies and knowledge gaps
Morell-Delgado, Gemma (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Talens Peiró, Laura (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
Toboso-Chavero, Susana (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)

Date:	2026
Abstract:	The management of textile waste presents an urgent global challenge. In response, circular economy strategies aimed at extending the lifecycle of textiles have attracted considerable attention in both policy and research contexts. This study presents the first systematic literature review of 185 publications employing environmental methodologies, beyond Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), to evaluate circular strategies for textile waste. The objective is to guide the selection and application of environmental methodologies to address key knowledge gaps with the potential to enhance the environmental sustainability of the textile value chain. Results reveal an increase in publications since 2020, with a focus on post-consumer textile waste and European contexts, addressed in 71% and 58% of the publications, respectively. Downstream circular strategies are more frequently studied than upstream strategies. LCA is the most applied methodology, present in over half of the publications, followed by indicator calculation, Material Flow Analysis, Waste Composition Analysis (WCA), and system analysis. 78% of studies adopt a single-methodology approach, with secondary data commonly used across all methodologies except WCA. Moreover, five key knowledge gaps are identified: enhancing access to high-quality data; incorporating calculations for a greater variety of fibre compositions and textile product categories; developing studies at regional scales; analysing consumer behaviour, particularly substitution rates; and investigating trade of used textiles. Recommendations are provided for the effective application of the reviewed environmental methodologies to address these gaps. This review contributes to advancing environmental research on textile waste management, supporting the implementation of circular economy strategies, and informing evidence-based policy development.
Grants:	Generalitat de Catalunya 2021/SGR-00734 Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades CEX2024-001506-M "la Caixa" Foundation ID100010434
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2024-001506-M
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Circular economy ; Environmental assessment ; Environmental methodology ; Life cycle assessment ; Material flow analysis ; Textile waste
Published in:	Waste management (Elmsford), Vol. 222 (July 2026) , art. 115648, ISSN 1879-2456

DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2026.115648
PMID: 42269212

17 p, 1.9 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA) > Sustainability and Environmental Protection (Sostenipra)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles