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International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology

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ISSN: 3108-1762 (Online)
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REVIEW ON SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TEXTILES AND APPAREL INDUSTRY: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS

AUTHORS:
Sunil N. Tetambe
Dhananjay Vilas Salgaonkar
Shashank Iyer
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CC BY 4.0 License:
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract

The global textile and apparel industry is undergoing a pivotal structural shift, positioned at the convergence of rapid economic growth and significant environmental and social disruption. Boosted by evolving consumer behaviors, intensified regulatory enforcement, and increasing resource constraints, the industry is transitioning toward a circular and low-carbon model. This in-depth review examines data and trends from 2024 to 2026 to assess the industry’s complex sustainability challenges. This study systematically analyzes data and trends from 2024 to 2026 to assess the industry’s multifaceted sustainability challenges. It presents a comprehensive review of environmental degradation, focusing on carbon and water footprints, the widespread contamination of aquatic ecosystems by microplastics, and the pronounced toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Concurrently, this study examines the significant occupational health and human rights vulnerabilities in major South Asian manufacturing hubs, which are further intensified by climate change and exploitative supply chain dynamics. Furthermore, the study assesses the effectiveness of emerging technological interventions, including blockchain-enabled traceability, advanced biochemical dyeing techniques, and next-generation biomaterials such as mycelium and bio-based polyamides. Finally, this review underscores the value–action gap in consumer purchasing behavior and the rapid expansion of the circular resale economy, offering strategic insights to better align industry practices with global ecological limits.

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Tetambe, S. N., Salgaonkar, D. V. & Iyer, S. (2026). Review on Sustainability in the Textiles and Apparel Industry: A Comprehensive Analysis of Environmental and Social Impacts. International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, 02(04). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i4.494

Tetambe, Sunil, et al.. "Review on Sustainability in the Textiles and Apparel Industry: A Comprehensive Analysis of Environmental and Social Impacts." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, vol. 02, no. 04, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i4.494.

Tetambe, Sunil,Dhananjay Salgaonkar, and Shashank Iyer. "Review on Sustainability in the Textiles and Apparel Industry: A Comprehensive Analysis of Environmental and Social Impacts." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology 02, no. 04 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i4.494.

References
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2.Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. (2024). Just for show: Apparel workers' rights under threat in South and Southeast Asia amid pervasive trade union-busting.

3.Cui, C., Abidin, S. Z., & Ali, N. A. M. (2025). Sustainable style: Unraveling the trends and future of green marketing in the textile and apparel industry. Sustainability, 17(1), 292.

4.Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2017). A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion's future.

5.Fair Labor Association. (2025). Learnings from fair compensation projects in Vietnam and Bangladesh.

6.(2025). A look at 2024–2025 performance review and trends in the textile industry.

7.Hendrickson, T. (2025). Textile regulations in the U.S. and abroad. Specialty Fabrics Review.

8.Imam, S. M. (2024). Life cycle assessment of a textile industry. Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

9.International Labor and Working-Class History. (2024). Made in South Asia: Centering labor in textile and garment manufacturing work. Cambridge University Press, 107, 198-205.

10.ISS ESG. (2025). Under pressure: The textiles & apparel industry’s multiple challenges.

 
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This article has undergone plagiarism screening and double-blind peer review. Editorial policies have been followed. Authors retain copyright under CC BY-NC 4.0 license. The research complies with ethical standards and institutional guidelines.
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