Fostering sustainable consumer behavior regarding clothing: Assessing trends on purchases, recycling and disposal

The apparel industry, which includes the clothing/garment sector, encompasses the supply chain of clothing and garments, starting with the textile and fashion industry, all the way to fashion retailers and the trade with second-hand clothes and textile recycling. This sector is characterized by substantial wastes, which may be minimized by means of textile recycling. This paper reports on the results of an international study on sustainable clothing consumption. This paper identifies and analyzes attitudes and behaviors regarding the clothing industry in a sample of 203 individuals. The results suggest a number of trends. Firstly, they show the complexity of purchase habits. The reasons why individuals dispose of their old or not used clothes are manifold, and include objective and subjective factors. Also, the paper illustrates the existence of disparities in respect of clothing use and disposal behavior. Finally, the results suggest that there is a need for more awareness-raising initiatives, in order to make consumers more conscious about the options available and the need for a more sustainable use of clothing.