Integrating Product Stewardship into the Clothing and Textile Industry: Perspectives of New Zealand Stakeholders

Abstract

The clothing and textile industry has become one of the world’s greatest polluters as tremendous volumes of clothing are produced, used, and disposed of at alarming rates. The industry must transition from its linear take-make-waste model towards a circular economy where textile products are kept in circulation and waste is minimized or eliminated. Product stewardship, an environmental management strategy where producers take responsibility for their products through design to the end-of-life stage, is one option to enable the circular economy. The aim of this research was to explore stakeholder drivers, barriers, and strategies for product stewardship participation in New Zealand. Qualitative data gathered through interview and survey methods of 25 stakeholder perspectives including designers, manufacturers, and retailers were analysed for emerging themes. Key findings suggest that product stewardship operating within the current linear system can only go so far; changes must occur at every stage of the value chain with all stakeholders making efforts towards circularity. Given the complexity of the product stewardship system, greater government regulation and incentive policies are likely needed to mainstream product stewardship and increase its material impact. The results of this study highlight the importance of contextual factors and capacities for tailoring regional product stewardship schemes to local needs.