Data in Textile Circulation

With the social and environmental footprint of textiles and apparel coming under growing scrutiny, downstream users and investors alike are calling for greater accountability of and assurance regarding the impact of textile production and consumption. At the same time, new technological advancements such as distributed ledgers (blockchain), internet of things (IoT), physical tracer technologies (such as DNA marking), artificial intelligence and machine learning are enabling data systems to enhance their production efficiency and provide transparency in critical operations. They are also helping collect, store and communicate valuable information. Its high consumption and disposal rates means the textile and apparel industry provide an ideal case study for these developments – especially in the context of increased commitment to responsible material sourcing and emission reductions. This chapter focuses on the data aspects in textile circulation and highlights some of the challenges and opportunities that the use of data may create in the textile value chain.