In October 2023, Miller Research were commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland to undertake a major research project exploring product stewardship and circularity within Scotland’s textile industry.
The project was designed to inform the Scottish Government’s Product Stewardship Plan, as outlined in the consultation Delivering Scotland’s Circular Economy – Route Map to 2025 and Beyond. With textiles identified as a priority product due to their significant environmental impact, the research sought to provide a comprehensive evidence base and practical recommendations for transitioning to a circular textiles system in Scotland.
The study combined both quantitative and qualitative methods, drawing on material flow analyses, spatial data mapping, life-cycle assessments, and a programme of extensive stakeholder engagement. This included interviews, roundtables, case study visits, and focus groups across the textile value chain – from designers and producers to retailers, waste managers, and consumers.
Findings revealed that while Scotland’s textile sector is economically significant, it is currently dominated by linear business models, high levels of consumption, and complex global supply chains. Stakeholders identified major barriers to circularity, including lack of industry representation, limited recycling infrastructure, policy inertia, and low public awareness. Nonetheless, there was strong appetite for change, particularly through legislative leadership, improved access to funding, and enhanced public education.
The research identified nine opportunity areas to embed product stewardship principles and support a circular transition: circular design, business model innovation, citizen empowerment, post-consumer recovery, regulatory leadership, innovation funding, local production, cross-sector stewardship alignment, and just transition frameworks. These were developed in consultation with industry and policy stakeholders and offer a roadmap for coordinated action.
As Scotland moves toward implementing its Circular Economy Route Map, this research provides a crucial foundation for understanding the systemic challenges and opportunities within the textiles sector. The recommendations are designed to catalyse cross-sector collaboration, investment, and policy development, ensuring that the principles of circularity and product stewardship are embedded throughout Scotland’s textile industry.