Exploring Local Business Model Development for Regional Circular Textile Transition in France

Abstract

From a cosmopolitan localism perspective, the circular economy could be described as a web of smaller circular economies where the core development is situated in local areas, like cities, or regions, with the active participation of territorial stakeholders. The objective of this research is to explore the development of local business model niches within the scope of circular textiles and fashion, including social enterprises. The research is based on the analysis of a specific territory, the Nouvelle Aquitaine Region in France, where participative observations at different scales (local, regional and interregional) have permitted an in-depth comparison of four local social enterprise business models. The study defends the active role of social entrepreneurs in supporting circular transitions into regions and highlights the strong diversity of challenges they faced during the design of local business models, both at a technological, social and policy level.

Keywords:

• circular economy
• business model
• action research
• localism
• conviviality
• textile design

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the INTERREG EUROPE RETRACE project for financing the research and all stakeholders involved in the action-research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 http://www.textile-platform.eu/

2 http://www.fobero.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Katty-Fashion-Ltd-The-bast-fiber-project-proposal.pdf

3 http://www.life-greenwoolf.eu/?lang=en

4 http://www.pottias.com/

5 http://fruitleather.nl/

6 http://www.lerelais.org/

7 http://koopera.org/

8 http://www.cpu-reuse.com/

9 http://www.redu.org.ro/

10 contemporarytextile.com

11 https://kameleonik.com/

12 http://www.econyl.com/

13 http://www.ressourcerie.fr/

14 https://www.eurosima.com/en/

15 http://www.anti-fashion-project.com/

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marion Real

Marion Real recently conducted a PhD in the field of eco-innovation. With a strong background in user-centered design, ergonomics & human factor, she specializes in the field of sustainable fashion and apparel business, and is working on the recovery of clothing and the design of supply-chains built around natural fibers, recycled clothes and local products. [email protected]

Iban Lizarralde

Iban Lizarralde is specialized in systemics and engineering design and works on the management of innovation through different approaches. Familiar with eco-innovation and creativity tools, he completes his research perimeter with new sustainable business models and conviviality approaches.

Benjamin Tyl

Benjamin Tyl is a researcher in eco-innovation. He develops and participates in research projects around open design, conviviality and eco-design. He is particularly interested in reuse center and design for repairing.

Through the RETRACE project, they now implement the principles of circular economy into territories, and look for developing approaches, methods and tools to enable companies/public institutions/NGOs/communities to tackle sustainability challenges at different scales.