Toward a just circular economy: Exploring societal implications of used clothing supply chains

Abstract

This paper explores the societal implications of used clothing supply chains, a topic often overlooked in favor of economic and environmental considerations. Based on the data collected from 20 organizations involved in used clothing supply chains, this study revealed the societal implications concerning three key themes: sustainable lifestyles and environmental justice, circular job creation and skill gaps, and stakeholder engagement for ecosystem development. The findings point to socio-economic dichotomies and propose three strategic imperatives to address them, which include (i) education, training, and awareness, (ii) policy and practice, and (iii) ecosystem collaboration. The findings of this study aim to inspire further discussions and empirical research in this field.