Textile Use & Reuse Phase and Related Business Models
In the circular textiles ecosystem, textile products remain in use for as long as possible through business models based on various circular strategies. By enabling textile products to circulate among multiple users and usage cycles, these models increase product utilization, reduce the need for new products, and create value from existing garments rather than increased production and resource consumption. Longer use phase is supported by circular product design as well as production methods enabling high-quality needed for long lasting products.
Textile Users
In future system price should not the the main criteria. All users, but especially organizations doing public procurement, should consider also sustainability and ethics of products
Consumers:
-
Enable circular flows – through reuse, repair, return and recycling of textiles.
-
Reuse depends on consumer participation – donating, reselling or returning textiles in usable condition.
-
Convenience drives behaviour – awareness of and easy access to take-back, repair and second-hand services is essential.
-
Perceived value influences actions – consumers are more likely to care for, repair, or reuse higher-quality products.
-
Information builds trust – clear, reliable product information supports sustainable choices.
Organisations
-
Intensive textile users – especially in workwear, PPE, healthcare and hospitality.
-
Service models enable circularity – leasing, rental and industrial laundering support reuse, repair and controlled end-of-life.
-
Organisations can enable circularity – through procurement choice
-
Traceability is higher than in consumer use – tracking (e.g. barcodes, RFID), support data-driven circular systems.
-
Discarding is sometimes policy-driven – rebranding, safety rules or organisational changes can trigger replacement despite remaining quality.
Textile Providers
Brands, manufacturers and retailers play complementary roles in enabling a circular economy and implementing circular strategies. Brands influence circularity primarily through design choices and business models, by setting requirements for durability, recyclability, repairability, reuse and take-back. Manufacturers contribute by selecting materials and production practices that support long product lifetimes, recycled content and recyclability. Retailers affect how products are used and managed at end-of-life through sales models, take-back schemes, second-hand offerings and consumer communication. Together, these actors can drive systemic change by aligning procurement, collaborating across the value chain and supporting circular services beyond pure product sales. Textile providers form PRO (Producer Responsibility Organisation) to implement the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility).
Circular Supply
Refers to use bio-based renewable and recycled materials in manufacturing.
Refers to models involved in collection, processing and recycling of waste into new raw materials.
In practice there will be different kinds of businesses and service providers:
- Second-hand stores & shops
- Rentals & clothing libraries
- Repair, maintenance etc. service providers collaborating with producers and/or retailers
- Professional refurbishment and repurposing services for users - brands or service providers refurbishing old textiles for lengthening product use.