Clean Jeans: Reinventing Blue Jeans at ORTA Anadolu Case Study

Written by: Atalay Atasu, Luk Van Wassenhove, Lisa Simone Duke
Published: May 18th, 2022

Summary

Orta Anadolu, a denim manufacturer based in Turkey that produces jeans for major global brands, is seeking to embrace the movement for a circular economy by redesigning its products and processes. How easy is the task? What are the barriers to and enablers for ‘circular’ fashion?

Teaching Objectives

To explore the feasibility of, and challenges to the circularity of denim, with reference to frameworks for a circular economy such as that of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and in reports by McKinsey and Accenture. Consider whether circularity will help achieve sustainability goals in the fashion industry. Analyze the access, technical and market challenges when approaching circular economy initiatives in the fashion industry. Debate whether intra- and inter-industry collaboration is sufficient to enable circularity in the fashion industry.

To access the case study, please visit: https://publishing.insead.edu/case/clean-jeans-reinventing-blue-jeans-orta-anadolu

An Evaluation of Recycled Polymeric Materials Usage in Denim with Lifecycle Assessment Methodology

Written by: Sedef Uncu Aki, Cevza Candan, Banu Nergis and Neslihan Sebla Önder
Published: August 11th, 2021
DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.99446

Abstract

Today, World economy is only 8.6% circular, which creates a huge potential in materials reuse. To close the Emission Gap by 2032, this percentage needs to be doubled. The circular economy ensures that with less virgin material input and fewer emissions. With the help of effective recycling technologies, virgin material use can be decreased and especially petroleum based materials impact can fall within planetary boundaries. This book chapter analyzes different chemical and biological recycling technologies, their advantages and challenges in denim production. Moreover, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis will be used to evaluate the environmental impact of recycled polymeric materials usage in denim fabrics. Finally, it concludes by challenges and the future of chemically recycled materials in denim production and opportunities to evaluate waste as a raw material to design circular systems.

To access the publication, please visit: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/77937

Understanding Denim Recycling: A Quantitative Study with Lifecycle Assessment Methodology

Written by: Sedef Uncu Akı, Cevza Candan, Banu Nergis and Neslihan Sebla Önder
Published: June 15th, 2020
DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.92793

Abstract

Global denim jeans market size is over 70 billion dollars today, and it continues to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2%. As a reflection of this annual growth, systems’ waste generation also increases. Textile waste including denim accounts for nearly 5% of all landfill space, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Today, efficient recycling technologies are essential to revive the waste generated. Recycling technologies potentially represent a new way to engineer products. This book chapter analyzes these different recycling technologies and their advantages and challenges and concentrates on denim fabrics produced with recycled content. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is adopted to quantify and compare the environmental impact of recycled denim fabrics. The chapter concludes the challenges and the future of recycling, creating systems, and engineering of waste. The view of seeing waste as a raw material potentially represents a new opportunity to design circular systems.

To access the publication, please visit: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/72493