How To Implement Circular Fashion In Indonesia
Circular fashion is a concept that we believe is capable of solving fashion problems. This concept emphasizes the circularity of the fashion supply chain. The current fashion problems make the idea of circular fashion even more necessary for us. For example, the textile industry produces dye waste and uses a lot of water that pollutes water bodies. Next is the problem of fast fashion due to consumerism, in which people often feel bored and like to change clothes even though they don’t always need it. Therefore, circular fashion has several solutions that we can try to implement, including:
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Collaboration
In implementing circular fashion, the most important thing we have to do is collaborate. We can do collaboration with other stakeholders both within the same industry and outside the textile industry. For example, a textile industry that has experienced a failure in production can send its products to the secondary market or make donations to non-profit organizations. This will increase the value of the fashion product and extend the life of the product.
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Product design
Product design is important for the application of circular fashion. To be able to design products properly and in accordance with circular economy principles, we can carry out innovations and research. We can do research by examining fashion product materials or production media that have the least impact on the environment. There are start-ups that manage waste into clothing. In addition there are also those who use plants as clothing dyes.
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Virgin material extraction
In extracting natural resources, we can apply circular economy. First, we can use natural resource materials that are more sustainable. Second, we can carry out the extraction process, we can carry out research and innovation. This can optimize the extraction process so that it is more efficient and minimizes waste and pollution.
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Certification and auditing
The certification process is very important for us to control products along the supply chain. Then, certification that is in line with circular economy principles, for example an assessment to measure the environmental impact of products. In addition, there is an assessment that controls the traceability of the product. Each company can use more than one assessment. With certification and auditing we can determine clear tolerance limits of a product. So if a product does not get certification, then the product can be stuck.
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Textiles and materials
The use of materials for the production of fashion products is a very important thing for us to pay attention to. In applying circular economy principles, we can replace conventional materials with sustainable materials. For example, clothing materials can use organic materials whose processing does not take up a lot of water and resources. Apart from that, we can also use material from recycling old clothes.
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Product manufacturing
To implement a circular economy, the manufacturing process must be able to streamline the resources used. Therefore, companies must be able to design product designs that can choose the best types of materials and the most efficient manufacturing stages. In addition, in the manufacturing process we can apply big data technology to perform transparency and traceability of a fashion product.
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Distribution and packaging
The distribution process is a process that must be carried out to send fashion products from the production location to the hands of consumers. Applying circular economy principles to the distribution process has the potential for us to apply. First, we can summarize the distribution process. This will minimize the pollution and energy needed by producers. Second, we can use packaging materials that can be recycled and can be reused.
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Transparency and traceability
Technology is deliberately created to facilitate human work. Transparency and traceability technology will be very useful for implementing a circular economy. Various fashion products can later be identified in great detail. For example, from the same source the clothes come from, the name and location of the supplier, and how the company manage the product. Furthermore, we may also be able to find out how much of these clothing products use water and produce CO2.
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Recycling fibers and materials
Used clothes that we can’t use can become a new resource. We can process used materials back into apparel that can be reused. This will reduce the amount of waste that has accumulated and its negative impact on the environment. In addition, we will reduce the use of virgin materials so that we will better protect natural resources.
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Post-consumer garment collection
Fashion companies can collect their old products. In this way the company has standardized old products that are easier to recycle. However, conditions are indeed difficult if consumers do not have sufficient awareness to return old products to their original clothing companies. Therefore, the development of this concept must be accompanied by transparency and traceability technology.
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Customer use
Circular economy emphasizes to be able to maintain the value of the fashion product as long as possible. Likewise with consumers who use clothing products. The application of circular economy can occur when consumers want to use their clothes as long as possible or give them to someone else. In addition, thrifting culture can serve as an example of how consumers can apply circular economy principles among themselves.