IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i5p2102-d1602472.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Ecodesign Transformation of Smart Clothing: Towards a Systemic and Coupled Social–Ecological–Technological System Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Shiqian Zhu

    (College of Fashion and Design, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China)

  • Xiaogang Liu

    (College of Fashion and Design, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China)

Abstract

Smart clothing integrates advanced technologies such as textile materials, flexible electronics, and data communication systems, playing a pivotal role in driving productivity innovation within the textile and apparel industry. However, this emerging field faces substantial challenges, including high resource consumption, high disposal rates, and difficulties in material recycling and management. This paper presents an integrative review, analyzing 263 studies to examine the ecodesign transformation framework for smart clothing. The findings highlight multiple sustainability challenges associated with the linear lifecycle of traditional smart clothing. By assessing ecodesign strategies across various stages of the lifecycle, the study emphasizes the need for a shift from a product-focused approach to system-level innovation in the ecodesign of smart clothing. Building on this, we propose a systematic, coupling ecodesign framework to facilitate the sustainable transformation of smart clothing. This framework is grounded in the principles of circular economy and Social–Ecological–Technological Systems (SETSs). Our work not only aims to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals but also aligns with the core objectives of the European Green Deal, focusing on resource efficiency and low environmental impact. We seek to provide a feasible theoretical framework to guide the sustainable transformation of smart clothing.

Suggested Citation

  • Shiqian Zhu & Xiaogang Liu, 2025. "The Ecodesign Transformation of Smart Clothing: Towards a Systemic and Coupled Social–Ecological–Technological System Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-28, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2102-:d:1602472
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2102/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2102/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sumera Ahmad & Suraya Miskon & Rana Alabdan & Iskander Tlili, 2020. "Towards Sustainable Textile and Apparel Industry: Exploring the Role of Business Intelligence Systems in the Era of Industry 4.0," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Nuo Zhang & Qi Han & Bauke de Vries, 2021. "Building Circularity Assessment in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry: A New Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-21, November.
    3. Luigi Panza & Giulia Bruno & Franco Lombardi, 2023. "Integrating Absolute Sustainability and Social Sustainability in the Digital Product Passport to Promote Industry 5.0," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    4. Marcel C. Hollander & Conny A. Bakker & Erik Jan Hultink, 2017. "Product Design in a Circular Economy: Development of a Typology of Key Concepts and Terms," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 517-525, June.
    5. Giulia Wally Scurati & Marco Bertoni & Serena Graziosi & Francesco Ferrise, 2021. "Exploring the Use of Virtual Reality to Support Environmentally Sustainable Behavior: A Framework to Design Experiences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    6. Rembrandt H. E. M. Koppelaar & Sreenivaasa Pamidi & Enikő Hajósi & Lucia Herreras & Pascal Leroy & Ha-Young Jung & Amba Concheso & Radha Daniel & Fernando B. Francisco & Cristina Parrado & Siro Dell’A, 2023. "A Digital Product Passport for Critical Raw Materials Reuse and Recycling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.
    7. Andreas R. Köhler & Lorenz M. Hilty & Conny Bakker, 2011. "Prospective Impacts of Electronic Textiles on Recycling and Disposal," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(4), pages 496-511, August.
    8. Wang, H. & Pan, Chen & Wang, Qunwei & Zhou, P., 2020. "Assessing sustainability performance of global supply chains: An input-output modeling approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(1), pages 393-404.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ke Zhang & Xingwei Wang, 2021. "Pollution Haven Hypothesis of Global CO 2 , SO 2 , NO x —Evidence from 43 Economies and 56 Sectors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-27, June.
    2. German Arana‐Landin & Waleska Sigüenza & Beñat Landeta‐Manzano & Iker Laskurain‐Iturbe, 2024. "Circular economy: On the road to ISO 59000 family of standards," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1977-2009, May.
    3. Sofie Hagejärd & Anita Ollár & Paula Femenías & Ulrike Rahe, 2020. "Designing for Circularity—Addressing Product Design, Consumption Practices and Resource Flows in Domestic Kitchens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Abderahman Rejeb & Karim Rejeb & Suhaiza Zailani & Yasanur Kayikci & John G. Keogh, 2023. "Examining Knowledge Diffusion in the Circular Economy Domain: a Main Path Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 125-166, March.
    5. Nasiri, Mohammad Sadegh & Shokouhyar, Sajjad, 2021. "Actual consumers' response to purchase refurbished smartphones: Exploring perceived value from product reviews in online retailing," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    6. Kirchherr, Julian & Piscicelli, Laura & Bour, Ruben & Kostense-Smit, Erica & Muller, Jennifer & Huibrechtse-Truijens, Anne & Hekkert, Marko, 2018. "Barriers to the Circular Economy: Evidence From the European Union (EU)," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 264-272.
    7. Yiming Zhuang & Meltem Denizel & Frank Montabon, 2023. "Examining Firms’ Sustainability Frontier: Efficiency in Reaching the Triple Bottom Line," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-22, May.
    8. Surajit Bag & Muhammad Sabbir Rahman & Gautam Srivastava & Peter Kilbourn & Nishikant Mishra, 2024. "Buyer–supplier partnerships and circular economy performance in food supply chains: Serial mediation by commitment contract and innovation performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1247-1264, February.
    9. Oleg Kapliński, 2023. "Architectural, Civil, and Infrastructure Engineering in View of Sustainability: Editor’s Comment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-7, March.
    10. Żaneta Muranko & Catriona Tassell & Anouk Zeeuw van der Laan & Marco Aurisicchio, 2021. "Characterisation and Environmental Value Proposition of Reuse Models for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: Reusable Packaging and Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-35, March.
    11. Majid Azadi & Zohreh Moghaddas & Reza Farzipoor Saen & Angappa Gunasekaran & Sachin Kumar Mangla & Alessio Ishizaka, 2023. "Using network data envelopment analysis to assess the sustainability and resilience of healthcare supply chains in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 328(1), pages 107-150, September.
    12. Alessio Franconi & Fabrizio Ceschin & David Peck, 2022. "Structuring Circular Objectives and Design Strategies for the Circular Economy: A Multi-Hierarchical Theoretical Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-26, July.
    13. Li, Yongqing & Ma, Huimin & Xiong, Jie & Zhang, Jinlong & Ponnamma Divakaran, Pradeep Kumar, 2022. "Manufacturing structure, transformation path, and performance evolution: An industrial network perspective," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PA).
    14. Cristina Sousa Rocha & Paula Antunes & Paulo Partidário, 2023. "Design for Circular Economy in a Strong Sustainability Paradigm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-30, December.
    15. Iolanda L. Chamusca & Cristiano V. Ferreira & Thiago B. Murari & Antonio L. Apolinario & Ingrid Winkler, 2023. "Towards Sustainable Virtual Reality: Gathering Design Guidelines for Intuitive Authoring Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-24, February.
    16. Nancy Bocken & Lars Strupeit & Katherine Whalen & Julia Nußholz, 2019. "A Review and Evaluation of Circular Business Model Innovation Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-25, April.
    17. Massimiliano Borrello & Stefano Pascucci & Luigi Cembalo, 2020. "Three Propositions to Unify Circular Economy Research: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, May.
    18. Peerally, Jahan Ara & Santiago, Fernando & De Fuentes, Claudia & Moghavvemi, Sedigheh, 2022. "Towards a firm-level technological capability framework to endorse and actualize the Fourth Industrial Revolution in developing countries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    19. Mojtaba Ashour & Amir Mahdiyar & Syarmila Hany Haron, 2021. "A Comprehensive Review of Deterrents to the Practice of Sustainable Interior Architecture and Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    20. Phil Brown & Nancy Bocken & Ruud Balkenende, 2019. "Why Do Companies Pursue Collaborative Circular Oriented Innovation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-23, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2102-:d:1602472. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.