The circular economy and the sustainable development goals: Strategies for consumer involvement in the textile industry

Abstract

The textile industry, a globally significant sector, is increasingly adopting sustainable alternatives through corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, circular economy (CE) principles, and implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). A total of 60 companies from the textile sector were analysed using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to assess the achievement of SDGs 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 15, adopting CSR, ESG and CE principles. The analysis resulted in the identification of six strategic profiles reflecting different approaches to SDG implementation, which were classified according to the level of consumer engagement (low, moderate, or high). We argue that consumer involvement and co- creation is key to sustainable development. The findings demonstrate that effective SDG implementation requires a balanced combination of policy structures, product innovation and active consumer participation. Our analysis contributes to the theoretical understanding of the role of consumer participation for achieving sustainability, providing managerial insights into fostering sustainable consumer behaviours. This research advances the discussion on corporate sustainability strategies and consumer agency in circular value chains.