Work

Clothing Purchase Preferences and Textile Waste Management Practices in Greece: A Practice Theory-Based Study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The clothing and textile industry is under increasing pressure to comply with European sustainability directives, including the European Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the revised Waste Framework Directive, effective October 2025. While global interest in sustainable textile practices grows, limited research has examined clothing consumption and disposal behaviors in Greece, particularly through the lens of practice theory. This study addresses that gap by exploring the dynamics of these practices using a structured questionnaire distributed online via Google Forms in 2024 with 250 valid responses. Chi-square (χ2) tests and regressions analyses were used to assess associations among certain categorical variables. Our findings reveal that older consumers tend to spend more on clothing and show a preference for fast fashion. Frequent shoppers also lean toward fast fashion, yet they demonstrate greater concern for material composition. Higher sustainability awareness is associated with a preference for purchasing fewer garments or opting for higher-quality items. Notably, discomfort with recycled materials predicts reluctance toward industrial recycling and reinforces the tendency to choose durable clothing that lasts longer.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su18031610

Authors: Sofia Kondyli, Spyridoula Bouliota, Dimitrios Komilis

Institution: Democritus University of Thrace

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Sustainability in Business

Subfield: Marketing

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896