Exploring barriers to takeback systems from a SME textile wholesaler’s perspective : Moving towards a Circular Textile Economy

The textile industry is currently one of the largest contributors to the global economy, andcontinuously growing. Phenomena such as fast fashion contribute toward the growingeconomic success of the textile industry. However, because of an increased assortment ofproducts, the amount of generated textile waste has also increased. The textile industry hasbecome one of the largest sources of pollution. Today the two most common disposalalternatives for textile products is to either incinerate or landfill. This study explores thechallenges encountered by SME textile wholesalers during the implementation of takebacksystems. Through semi-structured interviews, the perception, opinions, and experiences oftextile wholesalers were studied to explore existing barriers and identify new barriers to entryfor takeback systems. A takeback system allows textile wholesalers to recycle textiles andintroduce recycled textiles back into the market. Additionally, through incentives such asdiscounts for customers that utilise a takeback system, customers are more encouraged toengage in takeback systems. Therefore, through a takeback system, a dependant relationship isbuilt between the wholesaler and the customer, increasing customer retention. However, dataindicated that a takeback system will most likely result in an increase in price for the customer.Introducing the challenge of not only negotiating this price increase with new customers, butalso existing ones. For a successful implementation of a takeback system, the economic, social,and environmental objectives need to be balanced.