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Search Results (201)

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Keywords = fast fashion

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8 pages, 934 KiB  
Proceeding Paper
Optimizing Order Scheduling in Morocco’s Garment Industry for Fast Fashion: A K-Means Clustering-Driven Approach
by Abdelfattah Mouloud, Yasmine El Belghiti, Samir Tetouani, Omar Cherkaoui and Aziz Soulhi
Eng. Proc. 2025, 97(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025097050 - 21 Jul 2025
Viewed by 235
Abstract
The Moroccan garment industry faces challenges in scheduling small order batches, often hindered by traditional product family-based methods that increase downtime by 15–20%. This study proposes a clustering-based scheduling approach, grouping garments by technological times rather than product families to reduce changeovers and [...] Read more.
The Moroccan garment industry faces challenges in scheduling small order batches, often hindered by traditional product family-based methods that increase downtime by 15–20%. This study proposes a clustering-based scheduling approach, grouping garments by technological times rather than product families to reduce changeovers and downtime by 30–35%. A case study in a Moroccan factory with 50–100-unit batches showed a 20% lead time reduction and a 15% productivity boost. Using methods like K-Means, the approach enhances planning flexibility and resource use. This methodology offers a scalable solution for optimizing production and maintaining competitiveness in fast fashion markets. Full article
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24 pages, 737 KiB  
Article
Sustainability of Masstige Brands’ Identitary Values
by Živilė Sederevičiūtė-Pačiauskienė and Sigita Kamašauskė
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5919; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135919 - 27 Jun 2025
Viewed by 645
Abstract
Masstige fashion brands present a promising alternative to both luxury and fast fashion in the context of sustainability, offering an affordable yet prestigious option. However, these brands face the challenge of leveraging digital transformation tools while balancing prestige and accessibility. With its visual [...] Read more.
Masstige fashion brands present a promising alternative to both luxury and fast fashion in the context of sustainability, offering an affordable yet prestigious option. However, these brands face the challenge of leveraging digital transformation tools while balancing prestige and accessibility. With its visual appeal, interactive features, and daily usage, Instagram Stories is a highly engaging communication tool for masstige brands. Despite its importance, ephemeral brand communication remains an underexplored area. This study investigates how young consumers interpret and decode Instagram Stories featuring human models from masstige fashion brands that represent identitary values Sexuality and Seduction, Seasonality, and Renewal. Using mind mapping and focus group discussions with 75 frequent Instagram users, findings reveal that audiences actively reinterpret brand messages, sometimes reshaping their intended meaning. Highly stylized celebrities led to skepticism or disengagement, while authentic, everyday portrayals fostered positive engagement. Sexualized imagery was often reframed as functional rather than aspirational. The study reveals that while brands aim to communicate identitary values such as Sexuality and Seduction, these are usually reinterpreted or even rejected by users in favor of values like comfort, simplicity, or emotional authenticity. Conversely, values like Seasonality, Renewal, and Quality were more consistently recognized and positively decoded, suggesting a more substantial alignment between brand encoding and audience perception in those domains. Full article
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17 pages, 284 KiB  
Entry
The Health Impact of Fast Fashion: Exploring Toxic Chemicals in Clothing and Textiles
by Vivian Christine Dourado Pinto and Meital Peleg Mizrachi
Encyclopedia 2025, 5(2), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5020084 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 4562
Definition
The fashion industry is widely recognized for its environmental challenges, but the health impacts related to textile toxicity remain significantly underexplored. Beyond the well-known issues of pollution and resource depletion, modern clothing often harbors a hidden threat: hazardous chemicals embedded within fabrics. These [...] Read more.
The fashion industry is widely recognized for its environmental challenges, but the health impacts related to textile toxicity remain significantly underexplored. Beyond the well-known issues of pollution and resource depletion, modern clothing often harbors a hidden threat: hazardous chemicals embedded within fabrics. These include dyes containing heavy metals, antimicrobial agents that foster bacterial resistance, and synthetic fibers that release microplastics. Unlike environmental discussions, the dialogue around the direct and long-term health effects of these substances is still limited. This entry addresses critical yet often-overlooked concerns, such as how chemicals in textiles contribute to chronic skin conditions, hormonal disruptions, and even carcinogenic risks. It also examines the proliferation of bacteria in synthetic garments, leading to dermatological infections and rapid fabric degradation. Furthermore, the globalized nature of production masks the contamination risks transferred from producer to consumer countries. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this entry highlights the urgent need for integrating scientific innovation, stringent regulation, and consumer awareness to mitigate health hazards in fashion. It calls for the adoption of safer textile technologies, sustainable materials, and transparent production practices, paving the way for a fashion future that prioritizes human health as much as environmental sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Chemistry)
12 pages, 1291 KiB  
Article
Non-Destructive Condition and Damage Assessment of Historic Weighted Silk
by Marta Anghelone, Caroline Dalhed and Tanja Kimmel
Fibers 2025, 13(6), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib13060078 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 803
Abstract
Silk weighting is a process used to compensate for the weight loss caused by degumming, achieved by adding agents such as metallic salts to enhance the hand feel and appearance of the fibers. With the development of tin weighting procedures (ca. 1870s), the [...] Read more.
Silk weighting is a process used to compensate for the weight loss caused by degumming, achieved by adding agents such as metallic salts to enhance the hand feel and appearance of the fibers. With the development of tin weighting procedures (ca. 1870s), the production of weighted silk tremendously increased, as the fast decay of such fabrics was attributed to the process itself. The weighted silk was largely used for evening wear and high-fashion garments, many of which nowadays are stored in textile collections, and often characterized by poor conservation conditions. Within the present work, a multi-analytical and interdisciplinary non-destructive protocol was established for studying the finishing techniques, characterizing the materials as well as the state of preservation of historic tin-weighted silk. The protocol involves a visual and haptic approach typical of conservation professionals, as well as analytical investigations such as X-Ray Fluorescence analyses, 3D digital microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in Attenuated Total Reflection. Elemental analyses are effective for studying the technology of production, while FTIR emerged as a powerful tool for assessing the condition, through the carbonyl and crystallinity indices. Full article
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18 pages, 1896 KiB  
Review
Fashion to Dysfunction: The Role of Plastic Pollution in Interconnected Systems of the Environment and Human Health
by Adelaide Parks Lovett, Leslie Browning-Samoni and Charles Freeman
Textiles 2025, 5(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/textiles5020021 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1461
Abstract
The rapid production and disposal of synthetic textiles, driven by fast fashion and overconsumption, contribute significantly to environmental pollution and human health risks. Functional finishes often contain toxic substances that leach into aquatic systems. Laundering and abrasion release microplastic fibers (MPFs), commonly called [...] Read more.
The rapid production and disposal of synthetic textiles, driven by fast fashion and overconsumption, contribute significantly to environmental pollution and human health risks. Functional finishes often contain toxic substances that leach into aquatic systems. Laundering and abrasion release microplastic fibers (MPFs), commonly called microplastics, and anthropogenic microfibers (MFs) which degrade into nanoplastics (NPs) through mechanical stress, heat, and UV radiation. These particles bypass wastewater treatment and accumulate in human organs, including the liver, lungs, and brain. This review highlights the limitations of current waste management systems, the role of textile design in particle release, and the need for further research on airborne emissions and environmental interactions. Mitigating textile-derived plastic pollution will require biodegradable finishes, pre-consumer filtration systems, and circular consumption models supported by interdisciplinary collaboration. Full article
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15 pages, 239 KiB  
Article
Circular Business Strategies in the Portuguese Textile and Clothing Industry
by Susana Bernardino, José de Freitas Santos and Margarida Silva
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 5005; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115005 - 29 May 2025
Viewed by 674
Abstract
The transition from a linear to a more circular economy has pressured companies from different sectors to implement circular business strategies and redesign their existing business models or even create new ones. The aim of this investigation is to identify the different circular [...] Read more.
The transition from a linear to a more circular economy has pressured companies from different sectors to implement circular business strategies and redesign their existing business models or even create new ones. The aim of this investigation is to identify the different circular business strategies adopted by Portuguese companies in the textile and clothing industry and evaluate their impact on the sustainability of the business. This article presents a framework of strategies to guide managers in addressing the challenges of moving from fast to more sustainable fashion. This exploratory research is based on a qualitative methodology, relying on semi-structured interviews with the managers of six companies in the textile and clothing sector in Portugal that have implemented circular practices. The primary data collection took place between 20 July and 30 September 2022. The results show that companies have supported their circular economy practices mainly through product life extension strategies (mostly based on durable product design) and resource use reduction strategies, with resource recovery being the most common. The use of personalized product design and clothing repair strategies is still largely unexplored by companies. The findings also suggest that companies have to adapt their way of production and market relationships with consumers in order to accommodate the practices of a circular economy in their businesses. In the future, a quantitative approach could also provide new insights, as well as longitudinal and cross-country comparison studies. Full article
21 pages, 1010 KiB  
Article
Unraveling the Green Veil: Investigating the Affective Responses of U.S. Generation Z to Fast Fashion Greenwashing Through C-A-B Theory
by Md Nazmul Haque and Chunmin Lang
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 4973; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114973 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 2327
Abstract
This research aims to investigate, using the C-A-B theory, the buying decision-making processes of Gen Z consumers in the United States when exposed to fast fashion brand advertising messages including greenwashing elements. Responses of 345 valid participants from the Amazon Mturk platform were [...] Read more.
This research aims to investigate, using the C-A-B theory, the buying decision-making processes of Gen Z consumers in the United States when exposed to fast fashion brand advertising messages including greenwashing elements. Responses of 345 valid participants from the Amazon Mturk platform were analyzed through Mplus 8.11 and SPSS 29. Two-step, structural equation modeling was implemented to test the hypothesis. Additionally, 5000 bootstrapping iterations were used to examine the indirect effects. Study findings indicated that Gen Z consumers responded positively and negatively to fast fashion brands’ product promotional messages. Despite feeling skeptical and betrayed over the greenwashing assertion, they intend to purchase the goods. A contributing factor to this unforeseen purchasing intention may be their indifference towards environmental concerns. Moreover, when greenwashing assertions are infused with product advantages through strategic ingenuity and aligned with the specific demands of certain generations, the perception of positive emotional reaction supersedes the negative, hence facilitating the purchase of the green product. Furthermore, there is evidence of optimism biases, a cognitive bias where they exaggerate their capacity to identify instances of greenwashing, prioritize more on their certain needs, and underestimate the associated environmental risk for others. This clarifies the paradoxical buying patterns of Gen Z consumers. Although Gen Z is the youngest demographic, their tastes for fast fashion apparel may alter as they develop and their lifestyles adapt, influenced by both positive and negative emotional reactions to fast fashion brands. Consequently, the fast fashion business must retain this customer by utilizing sustainability messaging instead of misleading greenwashing assertions in the future. Full article
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40 pages, 460 KiB  
Article
Fast Fashion Sector: Business Models, Supply Chains, and European Sustainability Standards
by Núria Arimany Serrat, Manel Arribas-Ibar and Gözde Erdoğan
Systems 2025, 13(6), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13060405 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 4929
Abstract
One of the core objectives of the European Green Deal in pursuing climate neutrality and sustainable development is the decarbonization of high-impact sectors. Among the most polluting is the fast fashion industry, driven by linear business models that must urgently transition to circular [...] Read more.
One of the core objectives of the European Green Deal in pursuing climate neutrality and sustainable development is the decarbonization of high-impact sectors. Among the most polluting is the fast fashion industry, driven by linear business models that must urgently transition to circular economy frameworks and decarbonized supply chains. Fast fashion poses significant environmental and social challenges due to its high greenhouse gas emissions, excessive resource consumption, and substantial waste generation. To foster greater sustainability within the sector, this study examines environmental indicators defined by the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), in accordance with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) 2022/2464. Aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), these standards aim to harmonize sustainability disclosures and enable better decision-making across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions throughout Europe. This research focuses on five key environmental aspects—climate change, pollution, water resource management, biodiversity, and circular economy/resource use—across four leading fast fashion brands: Mango, Zara, H&M, and Shein. Using an exploratory web-based methodology, this study evaluates how these companies disclose and implement ESG strategies in their supply chains. The central aim is to assess the sustainability and resilience of their operations, with particular emphasis on communication strategies that support the transition from linear to circular business models. Ultimately, this study seeks to highlight both the progress and persistent challenges faced by the fast fashion industry in aligning with ESG and ESRS requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science)
33 pages, 6462 KiB  
Article
Designing for Digital Education Futures: Design Thinking for Fostering Higher Education Students’ Sustainability Competencies
by Maria Paula Ardila Echeverry, Andrea Gauthier, Heidi Hartikainen and Asimina Vasalou
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4289; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104289 - 8 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1012
Abstract
This study explores how design thinking (DT) for sustainable futures fosters higher education (HE) students’ sustainability competencies. By analysing the DT process of two teams of HE students co-designing digital educational technologies to address sustainability challenges (namely, children’s nature connection and their engagements [...] Read more.
This study explores how design thinking (DT) for sustainable futures fosters higher education (HE) students’ sustainability competencies. By analysing the DT process of two teams of HE students co-designing digital educational technologies to address sustainability challenges (namely, children’s nature connection and their engagements with fast fashion), we identify how sustainability competencies defined by the GreenComp framework emerge temporally, across the DT phases, and which DT practices foster or hinder their development. Our findings identify three specific DT practices—and three ways to enact those practices effectively—that unlock the transformative potential of DT and enable HE students to embody sustainability values, embrace complexity in sustainability, and envision sustainable futures. Our work contributes to the field of Education for Sustainability (EfS) by demonstrating how design-based learning can promote challenge-centred, collaborative sustainability learning within HE. Drawing on our findings, we also raise the need for new pedagogical interventions that can strengthen the emergence of sustainability competencies in the process of DT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)
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25 pages, 1928 KiB  
Review
I Don’t Buy It! A Critical Review of the Research on Factors Influencing Sustainable Fashion Buying Behavior
by Natalie Hogh, Joshua Braun, Lara Watermann and Simone Kubowitsch
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4015; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094015 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1600
Abstract
Research on the factors influencing sustainable fashion consumption, particularly green apparel buying behavior (GABB), has grown significantly in the last decade. Understanding how to promote GABB while reducing fast-fashion consumption is of critical importance to researchers, marketers, and policymakers. However, deriving actionable insights [...] Read more.
Research on the factors influencing sustainable fashion consumption, particularly green apparel buying behavior (GABB), has grown significantly in the last decade. Understanding how to promote GABB while reducing fast-fashion consumption is of critical importance to researchers, marketers, and policymakers. However, deriving actionable insights requires robust methodologies. Therefore, the goal of this systematic narrative review was to analyze existing literature on GABB, to identify key drivers, and to critically examine the methodological approaches, applied theoretical backgrounds, and utilized geographical scope. Following a structured multi-stage review process—including a database search, screening, and synthesis—n = 15 empirical studies focusing on GABB were included. The identified drivers are categorized into five factors: sociodemographic, personal, behavioral, social influences, and product attributes. Additionally, the review identified methodological shortcomings, including a predominant reliance on self-reported data, a lack of experimental designs and longitudinal studies, and a limited sampling scope across studies. Addressing these limitations in future research is essential to develop practical interventions that encourage sustainable fashion consumption and guide effective marketing and policy strategies. Full article
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22 pages, 1646 KiB  
Article
Consumer Awareness of Fashion Greenwashing: Insights from Social Media Discussions
by Muzhen Li, RayeCarol Cavender and Min-Young Lee
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 2982; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072982 - 27 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 6068
Abstract
Greenwashing, the phenomenon of companies misleading consumers about their sustainability practices, is prevalent in the fashion industry. This study explores consumer opinions on greenwashing through analysis of social media discourse. Cognitive dissonance theory served as the theoretical framework, explaining how consumers reconcile conflicting [...] Read more.
Greenwashing, the phenomenon of companies misleading consumers about their sustainability practices, is prevalent in the fashion industry. This study explores consumer opinions on greenwashing through analysis of social media discourse. Cognitive dissonance theory served as the theoretical framework, explaining how consumers reconcile conflicting information about brands’ sustainability claims. In Study 1, 446 comments on 12 Reddit posts were collected using the search term “fashion greenwashing”. Using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm and manual review, we identified three major themes: the phenomenon of fashion greenwashing, consumer empowerment in sustainable fashion, and skepticism towards fast fashion brands’ marketing strategies. In Study 2, using the search term, “#fashiongreenwashing”, two researchers collected and analyzed 76 Instagram posts with 370 comments. A manual review was employed to extract major themes, and network graphs of caption tags within the same theme were constructed. Three major themes emerged: strategies to combat fashion greenwashing, examples of fashion greenwashing, and advocacy and regulation in sustainable fashion. Findings from Studies 1 and 2 revealed that consumers are increasingly aware of brands’ deceptive practices and advocacy for sustainable practices to resolve this dissonance when they see greenwashing information. This study underscored the need for fashion brands to provide transparent and authentic information. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
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36 pages, 34376 KiB  
Article
Fast Fourier Asymmetric Context Aggregation Network: A Controllable Photo-Realistic Clothing Image Synthesis Method Using Asymmetric Context Aggregation Mechanism
by Haopeng Lei, Ying Hu, Mingwen Wang, Meihai Ding, Zhen Li and Guoliang Luo
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3534; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073534 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 706
Abstract
Clothing image synthesis has emerged as a crucial technology in the fashion domain, enabling designers to rapidly transform creative concepts into realistic visual representations. However, the existing methods struggle to effectively integrate multiple guiding information sources, such as sketches and texture patches, limiting [...] Read more.
Clothing image synthesis has emerged as a crucial technology in the fashion domain, enabling designers to rapidly transform creative concepts into realistic visual representations. However, the existing methods struggle to effectively integrate multiple guiding information sources, such as sketches and texture patches, limiting their ability to precisely control the generated content. This often results in issues such as semantic inconsistencies and the loss of fine-grained texture details, which significantly hinders the advancement of this technology. To address these issues, we propose the Fast Fourier Asymmetric Context Aggregation Network (FCAN), a novel image generation network designed to achieve controllable clothing image synthesis guided by design sketches and texture patches. In the FCAN, we introduce the Asymmetric Context Aggregation Mechanism (ACAM), which leverages multi-scale and multi-stage heterogeneous features to achieve efficient global visual context modeling, significantly enhancing the model’s ability to integrate guiding information. Complementing this, the FCAN also incorporates a Fast Fourier Channel Dual Residual Block (FF-CDRB), which utilizes the frequency-domain properties of Fast Fourier Convolution to enhance fine-grained content inference while maintaining computational efficiency. We evaluate the FCAN on the newly constructed SKFashion dataset and the publicly available VITON-HD and Fashion-Gen datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that the FCAN consistently generates high-quality clothing images aligned with the design intentions while outperforming the baseline methods across multiple performance metrics. Furthermore, the FCAN demonstrates superior robustness to varying texture conditions compared to the existing methods, highlighting its adaptability to diverse real-world scenarios. These findings underscore the potential of the FCAN to advance this technology by enabling controllable and high-quality image generation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
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19 pages, 1777 KiB  
Article
Secondhand Clothing in Global Commerce: Trade Patterns and Impact
by Debanjan Das
Commodities 2025, 4(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/commodities4010003 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 2132
Abstract
Secondhand clothing has undergone a significant transformation from a vital household asset in the pre-industrial era to a dynamic segment of global trade in the 21st century. However, the advent of fast fashion has led to overproduction and mass consumption of inexpensive garments, [...] Read more.
Secondhand clothing has undergone a significant transformation from a vital household asset in the pre-industrial era to a dynamic segment of global trade in the 21st century. However, the advent of fast fashion has led to overproduction and mass consumption of inexpensive garments, fueling a surge in the secondhand clothing trade. Between 2002 and 2022, the market value of this industry quadrupled, with exports accounting for 1.17% of total global clothing exports in 2022. This study examines global secondhand clothing exports using export competitiveness tools such as revealed comparative advantage (RCA), the index of export market penetration (IEMP), the trade intensity index (TII), unit values, market shares, and the compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The top eleven secondhand clothing exporting countries are analyzed for a ten year period (2013 to 2022) using the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database. The analysis reveals notable trends: the United States and China dominate the market, while Pakistan and the UAE exhibit the highest growth rates. The study also reaffirmed that trade patterns for secondhand clothing continue to flow from the Global North—including China—to the Global South, a trend observed since the early 2000s. This research provides a comprehensive, current analysis of the ever growing secondhand clothing export market within the sustainable management of the secondhand clothing context. Full article
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23 pages, 2622 KiB  
Article
The Interconnection of Double Materiality Assessment, Circularity Practices Disclosure and Business Development in the Fast Fashion Industry
by Victoria Bogdan, Luminița Rus and Diana Elisabeta Matica
Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1619; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041619 - 15 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2284
Abstract
This qualitative study aimed to explore double materiality reporting practices and their impact and financial materiality relevance as well as the disclosure of circularity practices in connection with financial and ESG reporting in the fast fashion industry. Thematic deductive content analysis (TDCA) was [...] Read more.
This qualitative study aimed to explore double materiality reporting practices and their impact and financial materiality relevance as well as the disclosure of circularity practices in connection with financial and ESG reporting in the fast fashion industry. Thematic deductive content analysis (TDCA) was performed in five steps on sustainability reports of iconic fast fashion companies, with the aim of identifying recurring disclosure themes and patterns with the help of the NVivo 14 software. The results reveal that strongly addressed topics in the reporting of double materiality are the sustainable and environmentally friendly use of resources and involvement in the community, while the least addressed is employee wellbeing. A strong positive association between double materiality assessment and resource efficiency was found, proving that the efficient use of resources significantly improves environmental performance. Also, circularity innovation shows high correlations with the assessment of environmental impact materiality and governance, highlighting the role of innovation in enhancing overall sustainability. Integrating circular practices into corporate strategies shows that companies performing very well in circularity are most likely to have higher ESG performance in the future. The integrated approach of double materiality and corporate circularity disclosure analysis is highlighted by the connectivity analysis on material financial and ESG reporting and circularity disclosure. Assessing double materiality information requires professional judgment, and mapping the sustainability aspects related to disclosure requirements requires a unitary methodology and a customized list of impact, risks, and opportunities. The study’s implications aim to improve sustainability information reporting and materiality matrix analysis but can also be extended to circular economy regulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Sustainability)
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22 pages, 1544 KiB  
Review
Microplastic Pollution in Soil and Water and the Potential Effects on Human Health: A Review
by Mario Alberto Pérez-Méndez, Guadalupe Selene Fraga-Cruz, Saúl Domínguez-García, Martha Lizeth Pérez-Méndez, Christian Israel Bocanegra-Díaz and Fabricio Nápoles-Rivera
Processes 2025, 13(2), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13020502 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 3944
Abstract
The presence of microplastics in the environment has increased due to anthropogenic activities; it is estimated that 15 million kilograms of plastic waste accumulate in the ocean annually. Pollution permeates every inch of the ocean from microplastics in the food chain to plastic [...] Read more.
The presence of microplastics in the environment has increased due to anthropogenic activities; it is estimated that 15 million kilograms of plastic waste accumulate in the ocean annually. Pollution permeates every inch of the ocean from microplastics in the food chain to plastic water bottles floating on the surface. This monolith of ocean pollution is made up of all kinds of marine debris and contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, covering an area twice the size of Texas. The objective of this review is to show advances in the study of emerging problems, specifically in the presence of microplastics in water and soil and their potential effects on health. In addition, microplastics have synergy with residual contaminants that exist in the water such as textile waste, organic matter, pathogens, etc. This causes damage to aquatic organisms as it makes nutrient transfer more complex in many of these species. There is a report that estimates that liabilities related to plastic pollution will cost the industry 100,000 million dollars due to lawsuits for damages and losses, of which 20,000 million will occur in the United States. The study of the presence of microplastics in the environment can generate indicators of the current effect to generate public policies that try to control the growth of this pollutant in the environment. It is important to discuss all the routes of generation of microplastics, distribution, and cosmetics involved in fast fashion with glitter and to evaluate the physical, chemical, biological, and toxicological effects on the environment, proposing the path and future to be followed regarding this research topic. Full article
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