Circular economy in the textile sector: carbon footprint and water footprint of a virtuous upcycling Italian case study

The textile industry is the fourth largest sector in raw material and water usage, following food production, construction, and transportation, and ranks fifth in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Only 1% of textile waste is recycled into new garments, and global textile production has nearly doubled from 2000 to 2015. Global clothing consumption in 2015 was 62 million tons, expected to grow by 63%, reaching 102 million tons by 2030. The textile industry emits 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, accounting for 2% of the total, and in the USA, about 4.5% of all municipal solid waste consists of textiles. Data from ISPRA tells us that textiles collected separately for recycling in Italy amount to 154,200 tons. Upcycling, the reuse of a used or waste material to create a new object with higher value or quality, in the textile sector emerges as a critical sustainable practice to mitigate the fashion industry’s environmental impact. In this empirical study, we have considered a virtuous Italian case study, examining the carbon and water footprint of transforming waste materials into high- quality new products. Quantitative analysis assesses reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption compared to traditional textile production methods. The findings highlight how upcycling can significantly reduce the use of natural resources and harmful emissions while promoting innovation and sustainability within the sector. This study contributes to the growing body of research on the circul