SUSTAINABLE AND CIRCULAR APPROACHES IN TEXTILE ACCESSORIES

The textile and apparel industry is undergoing a transformation driven by sustainability and circular economy principles due to its increasing environmental impacts on a global scale. While this transformation is often addressed through fiber types, fabric structures, and production technologies, the role of accessories elements that turn garments into complete products has long been overlooked. However, accessories such as buttons, zippers, snaps, labels, and similar components are critical elements that directly influence a product’s recyclability, disassemblability, and overall environmental footprint. This work addresses textile accessories from a sustainability and circular economy perspective, highlighting the importance of the subject and emphasizing the decisive role of accessories throughout the product life cycle. Within the scope of the book, topics such as the material structures of accessories, the challenges posed by multi-component systems in recycling processes, design for disassembly approaches, mono-material solutions, and innovative sustainable practices are discussed in general terms. In doing so, the book aims to contribute to the development of more holistic and effective sustainability strategies within the textile sector.