Apparel Circularity Business Models: Bridging Practical Insights and Academic Innovation
Distinguished Research Seminar Series
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Date
28 Mar 2025
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Organiser
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, PolyU
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Time
17:00 - 18:30
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Venue
Online via ZOOM
Speaker
Prof. Reza Zanjirani Farahani
Remarks
Meeting link will be sent to successful registrants
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Summary
The fashion and textile industry is a major contributor to global pollution, producing substantial waste that largely remains uncollected or undervalued. This seminar explores the post-consumer apparel industry's challenges and opportunities within the circular economy (CE) context. Drawing on empirical insights and business model analyses, we address the critical issues of inadequate textile waste collection, inefficient sorting technologies, and limited reuse in primary markets. Specifically, we analyze innovative business models designed to enhance collaboration between apparel firms and recyclers while minimizing cannibalization of new product sales. Key considerations include the economic and environmental impacts of these strategies, the role of emerging technologies, and the implications of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation. This discussion underscores the need for transformative approaches to align the industry with CE principles, driving value creation while mitigating its environmental footprint.
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Reza Zanjirani Farahani
Paris School of Business
Reza Zanjirani Farahani is a Full Professor in Supply Chain Management at the Paris School of Business (PSB). Over his distinguished academic career, Reza has held positions at institutions such as the Rennes School of Business, Kingston University London, Cambridge Judge Business School, the National University of Singapore (in collaboration with Kyoto University, Japan), Amirkabir University of Technology, and Sharif University of Technology. Reza has authored nearly 100 journal articles in leading publications, including Production and Operations Management (POMJ), Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (MSOM), European Journal of Operational Research (EJOR), International Journal of Operations & Production Management (IJOPM), Transportation Research Part E, and International Journal of Production Economics. His research focuses on practice-based problem-solving within Operations, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management, spanning diverse industries such as disaster management, healthcare, urban logistics, maritime, energy, circular economy, and agri-food systems. He holds editorial leadership roles in top-tier journals as Senior Editor for POMJ, Decision Sciences, and Service Science, co-EIC for Transportation Research Part E, and a board member for IJOPM. He has also chaired major conferences, including POMS Brighton (2019) and POMS Paris (2023). As an educator, Reza is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (UKHEA) and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PGCLTHE). His teaching consistently receives outstanding evaluations, with scores exceeding 4.5/5. Reza has mentored numerous Ph.D. students, many of whom hold academic positions at prestigious UK, USA, and Canadian institutions. He has secured substantial research funding as both a Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator, including EU Horizon projects and regional collaborations with organizations such as Rennes Métropole. Reza serves as a work package leader in a €5 million EU Horizon project (research and innovation) on textile circularity, commencing in 2025.
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