The
Undiscovered Business Potential of Production
Leftovers within Global Fashion
Supply Chains
Creating a Digitally
Enhanced Circular Economy
ABSTRACT
Reverse Resources, after winning the Global Change Award, has carried out extensive research among major fabric and garment factories in China and Bangladesh. We conclude that the volume of production leftovers is systematically underreported and thus underestimated by the industry. After the capacity of lean manufacturing methods (process optimisation) end, still >25% of resources (for a variety of reasons) are spilled out of original supply chains. Even though these materials get used somewhere, most materials get downcycled, incinerated or dumped. We describe the economic incentives for stakeholder (a “hidden subsidy” embedded in current pricing scheme) to continue along linear patterns, preventing more effective use of resources. We analyse the market situation, and potential for growth within the industry via improved material circulation, in the example of Bangladesh. We suggest a win-win business model of remanufacturing - integrating >20% of the leftovers (bigger fabric pieces) back into the same production. We describe an alternative pricing scheme which could give great economic incentive for suppliers to open up their data digitally. Better data from factories would facilitate virtual traceability of resources and digital interconnections throughout supply chains. This is crucial for building an effective circular economy as well as supporting many digital solutions of industry 4.0 globally (e.g. blockchain-based transparency).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Keith James at WRAP: “The figures presented are of a similar magnitude to WRAP estimates. This report is an important insight into an underexplored area. We hope that it will prove valuable in tackling this issue.”
Ria Kearney at Made-By: “The innovative and comprehensive approach Reverse Resources is taking is an essential part of moving the sector towards true circularity and which presents many opportunities for the apparel sector, at every stage of the value chain”.
Dr Curie Park at University of Cambridge: "RR certainly lays the critical stepping stone toward Sustainable Manufacturing and Internet of Things, which are two of the main keywords of the Digitalisation: the 4th Industrial Revolution. It is thrilling to watch how RR will help tackling the intractable inefficiency problem of the fashion industry by enabling transparent communication to optimise the material flow globally."To access the white paper, we'd appreciate if you'd leave your contacts so that we can invite you to participate in further discussions (optional).