Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Barriers to Reverse Logistics in the Fashion Industry: Toward a Sustainable and Transparent Supply Chain

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Abstract

The fashion industry faces increasing challenges related to textile waste and high product return rates, largely driven by fast fashion and e-commerce. Reverse logistics involves moving returned or used apparel from consumers back to companies for reuse, resale, recycling, or proper disposal. While reverse logistics is widely recognized as a pathway toward sustainability, its implementation in the fashion industry remains limited. Existing research has identified several barriers to reverse logistics; however, these challenges are often examined separately, resulting in a fragmented understanding of their impact on supply chain operations. This study addresses this gap by reviewing prior literature to identify key barriers to reverse logistics and examine how they are interconnected. The findings highlight challenges related to strategic integration, sustainability, technology and infrastructure, and supply chain collaboration. By synthesizing these barriers, the study proposes a holistic framework to support more integrated and transparent reverse logistics strategies that advance sustainability.

Keywords: reverse logistics; fashion industry; supply chain; sustainability

How to Cite:

Kaur, G. & Sadachar, A., (2025) “Barriers to Reverse Logistics in the Fashion Industry: Toward a Sustainable and Transparent Supply Chain”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.22011