Study on Meta-Organizational Digital Platforms for Circular Economy in the Fashion Industry

This study analyzed the current status of meta-organization digital platforms established for promoting the CE in the fashion industry, with the aim of exploring composition methods and strategic approaches for facilitating the CE transition. Eighty-four meta-organizations were examined based on country, type, innovation functions or activities, participating entities, circular fashion lifecycle stages, and governance methods. The analysis revealed that meta-organizations for the diffusion and activation of CE in fashion were primarily concentrated in Europe and North America, with the managed ecosystem type accounting for the largest proportion. Knowledge diffusion and creation of legitimacy were the most prominent innovation functions or activities. Most meta-organizations involved collaborations among 3–4 entities, particularly including fashion brands and manufacturers, NGOs and civil society organizations, academic and research institutions, and government or policy institutions. Most meta-organizations participated in activities across the circular fashion lifecycle, emphasizing waste prevention, production, extended use, material reuse, and the use of safe, clean materials. Open governance focused on information sharing, resource distribution, and granting autonomy was commonly employed. The study suggests that the balanced integration of innovation functions, concretization of multilateral cooperation structures, comprehensive strategies across all lifecycles , and the combination of incentives and controls to enhance reliability and implementation capacity are essential in designing effective meta-organizations. It provides foundational insights and empirical evidence for developing platform-centered CE meta-organizations, contributing to the transition toward a circular fashion industry ecosystem.