Vincular la Transformación Económica con los Objetivos de Economía Circular

The paper examines the transition of Africa's clothing and textile industry from a linear to a circular model. It identifies three primary opportunities: promoting sustainable inputs (such as regenerative cotton and alternative fibers), 'greening' the garment manufacturing process to gain a competitive advantage, and transforming the influx of second-hand clothing into a value-added recycling and upcycling industry. The author emphasizes that without a proactive policy approach and investment in technology and infrastructure, African nations risk missing economic opportunities and failing to comply with upcoming EU eco-design regulations.

• The global fashion industry is a major environmental driver, acting as the second largest consumer of water and contributing up to 10% of global carbon emissions, which is more than the combined emissions of international shipping and flights.
• African countries can increase the value of their exports and promote vertical integration by producing sustainable cotton or developing alternative fibers from regional plants such as pineapple, bamboo, coconut, and banana.
• Adopting 'green' manufacturing processes—including clean energy, regenerative organic cotton, and innovative recycling technologies—can provide African nations with a competitive advantage over Asian suppliers who have not yet fully adopted circular production.
• Specific examples of sustainable industrialization in Africa include Ghana's use of wastewater treatment and eco-labels in public procurement, and Ethiopia's Hawassa Industrial Park, which is the first zero-emission textile park.
• Africa is the world's largest market for used clothing, accounting for over 30% of imports; this presents an opportunity to create jobs and economic value through the development of sorting centers and the production of recycled yarns or upcycled products.
• The European Union's planned Sustainable Products Ecodesign Regulation will impose strict performance and design requirements and require digital product passports, making circular transition essential for African exporters to maintain EU market access.

APA

van der Ven, C. (n.d.). Vincular la Transformación Económica con los Objetivos de Economía Circular. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/vincular-la-transformacion-economica-con-los-objetivos-de-economia

Chicago

van der Ven, Colette. Vincular la Transformación Económica con los Objetivos de Economía Circular. International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/vincular-la-transformacion-economica-con-los-objetivos-de-economia.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=van der Ven |first1=Colette |title=Vincular la Transformación Económica con los Objetivos de Economía Circular |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/vincular-la-transformacion-economica-con-los-objetivos-de-economia |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vandervenndvincular, author = {van der Ven, Colette}, title = {{Vincular la Transformación Económica con los Objetivos de Economía Circular}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/es/articles/policy-analysis/vincular-la-transformacion-economica-con-los-objetivos-de-economia}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }