Purpose and goal

As one of the most polluting industries in the world, the transition from linear to circular economy is vital for the textile and fashion industry. If such a transition is to be successfully carried out, improved knowledge on how to organise and execute efficient and effective logistics operations throughout a circular ecosystem of stakeholders is required. Therefore, the purpose of the project is to explore the role of logistics in a circular textile ecosystem.

Expected results and effects

The project will develop new knowledge about how logistics resources and capabilities can be orchestrated in a circular ecosystem, as well as which value or values that logistics actually contributes to creating. In addition to economic values, this also includes other types, such as image, information and environmental values.

Planned approach and implementation

The project is based on four work packages; (1) mapping of actors and material flows in a circular, textile ecosystem, (2) investigation of how logistics resources are orchestrated in this system, (3) categorization of the values ​​created by these resources, and (4) development of practitioner-oriented guidelines for future orchestration of logistics resources.

The project is based on an interactive research methodology where researchers from Linköping University, University of Borås, and the global fashion company H&M participate. H&M, one of the world's leading companies in the fashion industry, represents here an interesting, information-rich case company with ambitions, power and position to play an important role in orchestrating the logistics resources and capabilities that exist in the circular ecosystem. The interactive research approach creates the opportunity for researchers and practitioners to explore in depth together the role of logistics in the circular textile ecosystem. Through a number of different workshops and data collections at H&M and its partners in the circular ecosystem, new, in-depth knowledge will be developed that is both theoretically and practically relevant.

Link to Exploring the role of logistics in the circular textile ecosystem