A strategic assessment of first-mile post-consumer textile collection strategies

The study of traditional supply chains has evolved to incorporate reverse logistics into closed-loop supply chains in the pursuit of sustainability. The recovery of used materials at the consumer level involves first-mile logistics operations for collection and transport to sorting and recycling centres. In the case of post-consumer materials, multiple collection strategies with distinct challenges may be implemented, alongside the critical role of consumer participation, an aspect that has not been sufficiently modelled. This study proposes an assessment of three collection strategies for post-consumer textiles: collection via outdoor containers, door-to-door collection, and collection through local stores. In some of these strategies, consumer mobilisation to drop off textiles is a key component. Through a case study in Antwerp, Belgium, this research evaluates the costs, emissions, and external costs of transport, as well as the effects of consumer behaviour on modal share and drop-off frequency. The results indicate that collection via dedicated containers is the most economically, environmentally, and socially efficient option in total terms. Door-to-door collection is found to be the most costly and polluting strategy due to its transport intensity. In contrast, collection in local stores yields the best indicators per tonne of reusable textiles. This outcome highlights the strong influence of material quality on the overall performance of collection strategies. As a direction for future research, the analysis of consumer willingness to participate is proposed, in order to rebalance the performance assessment of more convenient strategies.