A review on upcycling as a strategic marketing tool for sustainability in the fashion industry

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to present a mini-integrated review on upcycling as a marketing strategy used by brands in promoting sustainability. Upcycling has emerged as a promising strategy for sustainability in the fashion industry. Activities within the industry have resulted in the re...

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Main Authors: Emmanuel Abankwah Ofori, Bernice Djangmah Akweley, Benjamin Eghan, Raphael Kanyire Seidu, Richard Acquaye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Responsible Production and Consumption
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JRPC-02-2024-0007/full/pdf
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author Emmanuel Abankwah Ofori
Bernice Djangmah Akweley
Benjamin Eghan
Raphael Kanyire Seidu
Richard Acquaye
author_facet Emmanuel Abankwah Ofori
Bernice Djangmah Akweley
Benjamin Eghan
Raphael Kanyire Seidu
Richard Acquaye
author_sort Emmanuel Abankwah Ofori
collection DOAJ
description Purpose – The purpose of this study is to present a mini-integrated review on upcycling as a marketing strategy used by brands in promoting sustainability. Upcycling has emerged as a promising strategy for sustainability in the fashion industry. Activities within the industry have resulted in the release of toxic chemicals, carbon emissions and unsustainable products with significant environmental impacts. This has influenced manufacturers and researchers to adopt alternative but sustainable approaches. Design/methodology/approach – In this mini-integrated review, relevant documents and information were sourced from appropriate databases and websites to provide a brief insight into upcycling as a marketing tool. Findings – This mini-integrated review further provides insight into how effective upcycling can be integrated into a brand’s marketing strategy as a tool to communicate its commitment to sustainability and the production of high-value products for consumer satisfaction. It concludes that the fashion industry has a significant impact on the environment, and the practice of upcycling has surfaced as a potential solution to address issues of sustainability paving the way for further studies. Originality/value – Brands use upcycling to differentiate themselves from competitors and appeal to consumers who prioritize sustainability. By emphasizing the environmental benefits of upcycling, brands can position themselves as leaders in the domain of sustainable fashion practices.
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spelling doaj-art-dfac887b22aa41dea85bae6b29cda5342025-08-20T02:24:43ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Responsible Production and Consumption2977-01142025-01-012112410.1108/JRPC-02-2024-0007A review on upcycling as a strategic marketing tool for sustainability in the fashion industryEmmanuel Abankwah Ofori0Bernice Djangmah Akweley1Benjamin Eghan2Raphael Kanyire Seidu3Richard Acquaye4Department of Material Science and Engineering, Hubei University of Automobile Technology, Shiyan, ChinaDepartment of Industrial Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaFaculty of Art, Design and Humanities, De Montfort University, Leicester, UKSchool of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Textile Design and Technology, Takoradi Technical University, Takoradi, GhanaPurpose – The purpose of this study is to present a mini-integrated review on upcycling as a marketing strategy used by brands in promoting sustainability. Upcycling has emerged as a promising strategy for sustainability in the fashion industry. Activities within the industry have resulted in the release of toxic chemicals, carbon emissions and unsustainable products with significant environmental impacts. This has influenced manufacturers and researchers to adopt alternative but sustainable approaches. Design/methodology/approach – In this mini-integrated review, relevant documents and information were sourced from appropriate databases and websites to provide a brief insight into upcycling as a marketing tool. Findings – This mini-integrated review further provides insight into how effective upcycling can be integrated into a brand’s marketing strategy as a tool to communicate its commitment to sustainability and the production of high-value products for consumer satisfaction. It concludes that the fashion industry has a significant impact on the environment, and the practice of upcycling has surfaced as a potential solution to address issues of sustainability paving the way for further studies. Originality/value – Brands use upcycling to differentiate themselves from competitors and appeal to consumers who prioritize sustainability. By emphasizing the environmental benefits of upcycling, brands can position themselves as leaders in the domain of sustainable fashion practices.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JRPC-02-2024-0007/full/pdfUpcyclingSustainabilityFashion industryStrategic marketingEco-friendly
spellingShingle Emmanuel Abankwah Ofori
Bernice Djangmah Akweley
Benjamin Eghan
Raphael Kanyire Seidu
Richard Acquaye
A review on upcycling as a strategic marketing tool for sustainability in the fashion industry
Journal of Responsible Production and Consumption
Upcycling
Sustainability
Fashion industry
Strategic marketing
Eco-friendly
title A review on upcycling as a strategic marketing tool for sustainability in the fashion industry
title_full A review on upcycling as a strategic marketing tool for sustainability in the fashion industry
title_fullStr A review on upcycling as a strategic marketing tool for sustainability in the fashion industry
title_full_unstemmed A review on upcycling as a strategic marketing tool for sustainability in the fashion industry
title_short A review on upcycling as a strategic marketing tool for sustainability in the fashion industry
title_sort review on upcycling as a strategic marketing tool for sustainability in the fashion industry
topic Upcycling
Sustainability
Fashion industry
Strategic marketing
Eco-friendly
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JRPC-02-2024-0007/full/pdf
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