Applying Circular Design Principles in Uniform Design for the Airline Industry
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Post-consumer textile waste (PCTW) refers to any textile-based product discarded after customers' use. If the waste is not recovered, it ends up in the landfill. The diversion of PCTW presents significant challenges resulting from blended fibers (natural with synthetic fibers), lack of material composition information, logistics, and recycling technology. PCTW generated from corporate uniforms adds a layer of difficulties to waste recovery because they are branded by a specific company and, therefore, not considered typical ready-to-wear apparel. The purpose of this research is to offer a higher material recovery rate for unused and discarded post-consumer airline uniforms, which have a lower recycling and diversion rate than non-uniform apparel. This research found that airline employees usually donate uniforms to thrift stores, charities, friends, and family. Some airline workers expressed security concerns about employee personification, while others did not take preventive measures to remove corporate branding. Once an airline changes to a new image, uniforms become obsolete, even if they are new. Unused or discarded uniforms are mechanically recycled into stuffing, padding, and shoddy to a textile recycling center or thrown away in the landfill. However, this approach represents a significant loss of resources. To address this problem, this research has proposed the Uniform Redesign Model (URM) which consists of seven steps to remake new uniforms (upcycling) from discarded ones. This research created 3D prototypes of airline uniform variations for requesting airline employees' feedback and final design selection. Then, this study conducted an LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) to compare different textile waste management strategies for airline uniforms. This study found that reusing PCTW fabrics from discarded airline uniforms has a greater positive environmental impact than direct disposal to landfills and incineration scenarios.