A Framework for Sustainable Textile Waste Management using Digital Product Passports and Artificial Intelligence

This paper studies the integration of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) in the textile value chain, with an emphasis on improving waste management with artificial intelligence and promoting circular economy principles. The study dives into the significant environmental effects of textile waste, as well as the challenges related to its management. The aim of the paper is to increase the efficiency and accuracy of textile waste sorting and collection operations through the use of artificial intelligence. The proposed model demonstrates how DPPs can be incorporated into the textile value chain to provide comprehensive product information, enabling more informed recycling and waste management decisions. The model describes how data is collected, processed, and used at every stage of the value chain, from purchase and production to distribution, reverse logistics, and recycling. Each stage is interconnected, with feedback loops ensuring continuous advancement and flexibility to shifting market and environmental conditions. The findings demonstrate the critical role of DPPs in promoting the circular economy through facilitating materials to be reused and recycled, reducing demands for virgin resources and minimizing waste. The framework illustrates how AI insights may be used to improve the sorting processes of the textile waste while optimizing resource utilization, resulting in a more sustainable textile sector. Future work will be focused on improving the integration of enabling technologies into the DPP framework, testing its flexibility across multiple industry sectors, and ensuring that it fits objectives of both business and circular economy. The comprehensive methodology outlined in this paper serves as the foundation for a more efficient and ecologically responsible textile value chain, with the goal of reducing the industry’s overall environmental footprint.