Fast Fashion, Charities, and the Circular Economy: Challenges for Operations Management

Textile waste is one of the most pollutant items globally, being strongly affected by fast fashion (FF) products. Public pressure has made many FF firms voluntarily collect a small fraction their preowned and export them to developing countries for reuse. However, some are launching import bans on second-hand clothes. In addition, may soon be forced extended producer responsibility legislation more reuse recycling. To date, they do not have sufficient capacity deal with this. Charities been key collectors recyclers unwanted Therefore, charities could help increase in this reverse supply chain (SC). we hardly witness such collaboration two main reasons: (i) prefer sell high-quality primary market generate highest possible revenue fear cannibalization, (ii) believe that quantities low-quality require collection sorting while difficult market. also face competition from for-profit organizations selling items. While support volunteers, tend less efficient. This work urges Operations Management (OM) researchers suggest innovative business models collaborate solve abovementioned issues, improve traditional practices competitiveness. study primarily position paper highlighting challenges introducing interesting research problems. Although paper, it follows qualitative method analyze required supporting documents justify arguments statements. We collected secondary data textile SC members familiarize OM community context. The current changes offer great opportunities impactful research.