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Design jeans for recycling: a supply chain case study in The Netherlands
Harrie van Bommel1, Maarten Goorhuis2
1Sustainable International Business, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Deventer, The Netherlands h.w.m.vanbommel@saxion.nl.
Summary
Waste prevention in product chains, like jeans manufacturing, requires collaboration. An open innovation approach involving students and researchers successfully developed recyclable jean prototypes, demonstrating potential for other product chains.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Sustainable Manufacturing
- Circular Economy
Background:
- Growing recognition of waste prevention's need for an integrated product chain approach.
- Focus on jeans due to significant environmental impacts of cotton and low recycling rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore an open innovation approach for waste prevention in the jeans product chain.
- To develop prototypes of jeans designed for enhanced recyclability.
Main Methods:
- Awarded an International Solid Waste Association grant for a product chain project.
- Utilized an open innovation strategy involving diverse stakeholders across the jeans' lifecycle.
- Conducted a 'design jeans for recycling' workshop with students and applied researchers.
Main Results:
- Successful development of innovative jean prototypes designed for easier recycling.
- Demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating students and researchers from various disciplines.
- Highlighted the potential of open innovation to generate creative solutions.
Conclusions:
- Open innovation processes can yield highly creative ideas for waste prevention.
- Lessons learned are applicable to developing new chain projects for other products.
- Cooperation among key actors in an open innovation framework is crucial for success.
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