Exploring Eco-Design Strategies for E-Textiles in Sports Performance Applications

The rapid growth of e-textiles poses a challenge in terms of potential waste at the End of Life (EoL) of these complex products of the fashion and apparel industry, underscoring the importance of early eco-design choices. This study aims to conduct a literature review on e-textiles applied in the sportswear sector, identifying eco-design strategies that have been applied at each phase of the fashion supply and value chain focusing in particular on design, manufacturing, use, and EoL management. Further, the paper discusses the product-service-system design-driven innovations that encompass materials, components and fabrics selection and experimentation along with technologies supporting better manufacturing toward cradle-to-cradle approaches. In addition, the essential role of designers in interdisciplinary collaborations starting at the early stage of a project is highlighted as crucial to foster sustainability of e-textiles sportswear.